Wolgan Valley Eco Tours won a silver award in the Ecotourism section, recognising excellence in the field specifically in country and outback areas.

Wolgan Valley Eco Tours owner and founder Kristie Kearney said to receive the award at Thursday night’s ceremony at Luna Park was very exciting. 

“We honestly weren’t expecting it to happen,” she said.

“It’s the first time we’ve been nominated for a State NSW Tourism award, and this is only our second year of operation.”

Ms Kearney was putting the success down to 12 months of hard work in obtaining feedback from customers and going through rigorous accreditation processes with Ecotourism Australia. 

There will be no time to bask in success, however. The ecotourism company will be looking to expand its products. At the moment, it is based around four core guided walks within the Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone areas. 

Ms Kearney said she would be looking at collaborations with accommodation providers in the region and working closely with other tourism businesses in the future. 

“Ecotourism is still a burgeoning industry in the Lithgow region, and we want to continue to see it grow and become stronger,” she said. 

“Tourism statistics show that visitors want to have nature-based experiences.”

Those experiences included bushwalking, having close encounters with animals, rock-climbing, abseiling and finding amazing photography opportunities, Ms Kearney said. 

“It’s just a testament to the hard work over the last 12 months. We are excited for what the industry’s future holds for the region.” 

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The gold award for ecotourism was taken out by Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay. 

Managed by the Tourism Industry division of the NSW Business Chamber, the state’s peak business organisation, and supported by the NSW Government, the NSW Tourism Awards celebrate and acknowledge tourism excellence in NSW.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall congratulated the winners and said they exemplify the high standard and diverse range of tourism experiences on offer in NSW.

“Tourism is big business and it’s a vital industry to our State’s economy so to be recognised at the NSW Tourism Awards is an outstanding achievement and I thank all of the winners for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to offering the very best tourism and events experiences,” Mr Marshall said.

“The NSW Visitor Economy is the envy of every other State, with the greatest share of domestic and international visitors, visitor nights and expenditure, and an impressive calendar of major events across Sydney and rural and regional NSW.”

Seventy-one award winners were announced in a range of categories including Major Tourist Attractions, Festivals and Events, Destination Marketing and Accommodation. With 125 finalists in 2018, each winner was selected by an independent judging panel for their exceptional contribution to the NSW Tourism Industry.

Four winners were inducted into the NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Parkes Shire Council – 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival, Sand Dune Adventures, Lets Go Surfing Australia and Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery who took out top honours in their respective categories for the third year in a row.

NSW Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Cartwright, congratulated this year’s winners for their outstanding performance.

“This year’s winners and finalists should be incredibly proud to be acknowledged as the leading tourism businesses in NSW. NSW has a diverse range of tourism businesses, which is reflected in the entrants and winners in the Awards program.” 

“This year has seen a 21 per cent increase in entrants from 2017 and the judges were impressed by the high standard of entries showcasing a diverse array of talent, passion and innovative drive that continues to ensure our state’s tourism industry thrives.”