Berrima and Mudgee have emerged victorious as the best destinations for an outstanding visitor experience, as part of the inaugural NSW Tourism Industry Council’s, Top Tourism Town Awards.
Berrima, a small town in the Southern Highlands won in the less than 5000 residents category, with small Central West town Carcoar highly commended. Meanwhile, Mudgee, a tourism staple of central NSW, won the greater than 5000 residents category, with Orange highly commended.
Mudgee drew particular praise for its community spirit that draws in people to experience its wines, food and warm hospitality.
Berrima won as a result of its wonderfully preserved Georgian town, as well as its amazing food and friendly community.
Stuart Ayres, the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, spoke excitedly about the awards and the current climate of regional travel.
“There’s a real buzz about regional NSW right now and with incredible destinations such as Berrima and Mudgee to visit it’s easy to understand why.”
“Regional visitor economies are on the road to recovery, and the Destination NSW and Roy Morgan Weekly Visitor Tourism Tracking Index shows that the total number of visitors across regional NSW is approximately 20 per cent above where we were at mid-October last year.”
“The data also tells us that in the last six weeks alone, interstate travel has risen and 36 per cent of visitors to regional NSW are interstate visitors, up from 23 per cent in mid-February.”
“These awards showcase NSW’s strengths, and with the ‘visitor-first’ approach shown by the 52 entrants, the program is a great platform to demonstrate our State is in a fantastic position to be the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030.”
Participating towns had to submit a short video, itinerary and editorial article, with the field judged by a panel of industry experts.
Other awards included most inspiring editorial, which went to Oberon, most captivating video which went to Tumbarumba and most compelling itinerary which was taken by Ettalong Beach.