Lithgow named as a finalist in NSW tourism awards and residents are urged to vote

Lithgow has been listed as a finalist in the first ever NSW Tourism Council awards, and residents are being urged to vote for their favourite location, which is Lithgow, right?

42 towns from across the state are in the running for the inaugural award with Lithgow going up against big hitters like Newcastle and Terrigal. Voting is now open until Friday, 14 May 2021. The winners will be announced by the Hon. Stuart Ayres, Minister for Tourism, Investment and Jobs at the Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference on Thursday 27 May.

The finalists were all selected based on a multi-part pitch application for each region which included editorial and audio-visual components.

Andrew Powrie, Executive Manager Economic/Business Development and Marketing for Lithgow said Lithgow was emerging as a major tourist destination.

"The first thing is our location and proximity to three and a half million people in the western Sydney base. The opportunity [there] is significant. And as the infrastructure improves, it's easier for people to get out here," he said.

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"We've got this incredible pioneering heritage and innovative legacy. So we've got the Blast Furnace, the Small Arms Factory, amazing architecture, the list goes on. And the other thing that we've got is we're a world leading adventure playground.

"Where else can you find the Dry Canyon, Donkey Mountain, the highest lookout in the region, the second largest canyon in the world, seven national parks and seven state parks? We have just some of the most stupendous nature-based experiences in the country, if not in the world."

Andrew said despite being up against some much larger centres like Newcastle, the Lithgow community is more than capable of getting behind the campaign and voting.

"I think it might be tricky if we don't get all of our local community to back the destination. So the good thing is, you know, we're a tight knit community," he said.

"This is a great opportunity to galvanize the community and pull us together and it may well be, the other side, that the other locations are a little bit laissez-faire, they don't jump up and down about what they've got. Lithgow is going through a transition and tourism is a key part of that going forward.

"Hand on my heart, I think we will get some really good community voting happening."

"The Top Tourism Town Awards celebrate the unwavering spirit of these communities and demonstrates the true value of tourism and the visitor economy to these towns," said NSW Tourism Industry Council Executive Manager, Greg Binskin.

Vote here

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