Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia’s Mossman Gorge Centre has received the prestigious Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism at the Queensland Tourism Awards, which took place on Friday 11 November at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“Excellence in Indigenous Tourism is core to our vision at Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and to receive recognition for this for the second consecutive year is a great testament to the dedication of the team at Mossman Gorge Centre,” said Voyages Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Williams.
“Following the win last year, Mossman Gorge Centre went on to win a Bronze award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards and we are looking forward to competing at the highest level in the country again this year,” said Andrew.
Mossman Gorge Centre is an Indigenous eco-tourism development serving the Mossman Gorge World Heritage site in Far North Queensland. The Queensland Tourism Award was awarded for Mossman Gorge Centre’s impressive product which offers visitors a genuine insight into Indigenous Australia and authentic engagement with the local Kuku Yalanji people through Dreamtime Gorge Walks incorporating culture, history and storytelling on private Kuku Yalanji country in the heart of the rainforest. Mossman Gorge Centre also delivers significant economic, employment and training opportunities for the local Kuku Yalanji people.
Mossman Gorge Centre also won a Silver Award for Cultural Tourism and a Bronze Award in the Major Tourism Attraction category.
As a Gold Award winner, Mossman Gorge Centre will automatically be a finalist in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which will be held in Darwin on 24 February 2017.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia’s Northern Territory property – Ayers Rock Resort – was also recognised at the highest level in the Territory this weekend. At the Brolga Awards, Ayers Rock Resort also won the Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism for the significant achievements made by Voyages in Indigenous employment, training and development, as well Ayers Rock Resort’s wide range of authentic Indigenous guest experiences.
Image: The Mossman Gorge Centre team with their award (left to right): Natalie Chapman, HR Manager, Mossman Gorge Centre; Roy Gibson, Kuku Yalanji Elder; Rachael Hodges, Assistant General Manager, Mossman Gorge Centre.
