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Tourism Queensland named Best National Tourist Office for second year
Tourism Queensland has been named Best National Tourist Office by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) for the second year running, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced today.
Fresh off the back of winning a world record number of prestigious Cannes Lions Awards for the Best Job in the World Campaign, Mr Lawlor said Tourism Queensland was thrilled to receive such a highly-regarded tourism industry award.
"The AFTA Awards are voted for by travel agents on the basis of who they believe provides the best and most professional service," Mr Lawlor said.
"Recognition by one's peers is one of the greatest accolades that any industry can receive.
"And to be awarded it for the second year running during a very tough time for the industry is an even greater achievement by Tourism Queensland."
Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes, who accepted the award at Saturday night's 2009 National Travel Industry Awards gala dinner in Sydney, said the award recognised Tourism Queensland's ongoing relationship with the travel trade.
"This award highlights the extensive work Tourism Queensland has been doing over the past 12 months with travel industry partners," Mr Hayes said.
"This year we are continuing a strong focus on retail activity to get immediate results for the tourism industry across the state in these challenging times."
Mr Lawlor said Tourism Queensland worked closely with travel trade through a variety of avenues such as running travel agent familiarisations and workshops.
"If travel agents have good first-hand knowledge of a destination and its products and experiences they are much more passionate about selling it," he said.
"And selling Queensland is what Tourism Queensland is all about.
"The tourism industry and its willingness to work with Tourism Queensland in hosting and working with travel agents played a key role in this recognition.
" A big thank you to the hard working staff at Tourism Queensland too, whose enthusiasm and dedication to selling our state has once again made Tourism Queensland the best state tourism organisation in Australia."
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