30/11/00
Western Australia has taken five major awards at tonight’s 2000 Australian Tourism Awards.
The prestigious awards are organised by leading tourism organisation Tourism Council Australia.
Tourism Minister Norman Moore, who was in Canberra for the award presentation, said it was a fantastic result for the State.
He accepted the Significant Regional Attractions Award to The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk on behalf of the State Government.
Mr Moore also congratulated the other Western Australian winners.
The WA operators recognised among Australia’s best were The Perth Mint (Heritage and Cultural Tourism), Mounts Bay Village, Perth (Superior Accommodation), Leeuwin Estate (Tourism Wineries) and North Star Charters, Broome (Tourist Development Projects).
He praised their contribution to the growing number of visitors to our State.
“Awareness of Western Australia as a destination is already on the increase,” he said.
“This recognition of our operators commitment to excellence can only add to our already excellent reputation.”
Mr Moore said he was particularly delighted by the award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual going to the late Noel Semmens, for his dedication to tourism for over three decades.
He said that as chief executive of the Western Australian Department of Tourism from 1971 to 1983, Mr Semmens had transformed the entire structure and marketing image of the State’s tourism industry.
In 1990, with the co-operation of Sir Frank Moore, then Chairman of the Australian Tourism Industry Association (ATIA), Mr Semmens was responsible for the reconstruction of the Western Australian Tourism Industry Association (WATIA) to become the WA Branch of ATIA – and to be the first Branch President of ATIA, now Tourism Council Australia.
Winner’s details:
The Perth Mint, one of the oldest mints in the world still operating in its original premises, has been open to the public since 1993. From its guided heritage walk of the gold exhibition and hands-on $200,000 gold bar weighing experience, to the reconstructed miner’s camp, the mint offers an insightful and educational glimpse of yesteryear. Regarded as one of Western Australia’s most elegant historic buildings, the Mint is only a 10-minute walk from the city centre.
Mounts Bay Village, also just a few minutes’ walk from Perth’s CBD, offers the convenience, privacy and space of apartment style living, with all the facilities of a deluxe hotel. Open since June 1998, Mounts Bay Village last year established itself as the highest occupancy apartment hotel in Perth.
Leeuwin Estate, a boutique winery located in the Margaret River district, has earned an international reputation for producing wines which rank among the world’s finest and are exported to over 25 countries. Visitors can tour the winery, sample the wines and enjoy the finest local produce. They can also view a comprehensive Australian art collection, take a charter flight, attend summertime al-fresco concerts, take cooking lessons and more.
North Star Charters is the longest established charter cruise operation to cover the vast, north-west coast of Australia. Guests on the purpose built “North Star”, a 34m luxury cruiser complete with helicopter, can experience several of the world’s last remote wildernesses along the Kimberley coast.
The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, located near the South Coast towns of Walpole and Denmark and opened in August 1996, has been quickly established as one of the State’s most outstanding nature based attractions. The exhilarating Tree Top Walk takes visitors into the canopy of the giant tingle forest, as high as 40 metres above the forest floor.
The Australian Tourism Awards recognise the dedication, achievements and excellence of individuals and organisations across the broad spectrum of the tourism industry.
This year’s awards were presented at a gala dinner in Canberra before an audience of about 1,000 industry professionals.
Over 200 finalists from around Australia competed in 27 categories, plus three additional special achievement awards, covering all sectors of the industry ranging from attractions, accommodation and retailing to environmental and cultural tourism products.
For information contact:
The Perth Mint - Don Mackay-Coghill, ph (08) 9421 7203
Mounts Bay Village - Sean Blocksidge, ph (08) 9486 7999
Leeuwin Estate - Simone Furlong, ph (08) 9430 4099
North Star Charters - Craig Howson, ph (08) 9192 1829
Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk - Jim Sharp, ph (08) 9442 0304
Tourism Council Australia - Jacqui Berrell, (02) 9358 6055
Tourism Council Australia – WA Brian Hearne ph. (08) 9472 0000
Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister’s office, 9321 1444
