The NSW visitor economy triumphed at the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, with eight NSW businesses recognised across nine categories—including Balloon Aloft Australia, which took home double Gold.

It was a particularly strong result for the NSW North Coast in the wake of Cyclone Alfred, with the region securing five awards. The Tweed Tourism Company claimed Gold, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, and Love Lord Howe received Silver, while the Port Macquarie Museum and Potager earned Bronze. 

Mayor Steve Krieg said the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is "An outstanding asset and should be applauded for that by not only all the residents of Lismore but the many thousands of tourists that will come to our region each year to use it."

The Lismore to Casino section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail was funded by the Commonwealth Government.

Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan said, “This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

"It was great to secure almost $18 million to construct the Lismore to Casino section. 

"This is now a fantastic attraction for locals, tourists and businesses near and along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, who are all benefiting from this major tourist landmark.

"The Rail Trail is already one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the world, ranked by Trip a Deal.” 

Other NSW businesses celebrated on the night included Sierra Escape, which won Gold, and Mt Hay Retreat, which received Silver. 

Hosted by the Australian Tourism Industry Council, the awards showcase the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals across the visitor economy, with 24 operators from Bathurst to Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga to Sydney, and Batemans Bay to Byron Bay among the nominees. 

The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards are a benchmark of excellence, recognising those who demonstrate innovation, commitment, and leadership in delivering exceptional visitor experiences. 

The NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy review has set an ambitious target of $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure by 2035.

To help drive this growth, Destination NSW continues to support visitor economy operators through initiatives such as the NSW First and Choose Tourism programs, which provide workshops, webinars and online resources to strengthen industry capability. 

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “I want to congratulate all the NSW winners and nominees at the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards who are helping make NSW the destination of choice for travellers. 

“Thanks to their hard work and innovation, more people from all over the country and all over the world are visiting NSW to enjoy exceptional natural and cultural experiences. 

“Destination NSW is committed to working hand in hand with industry, celebrating our world-class experiences, supporting and upskilling providers and championing new ideas.”  

Acting Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said, “The success of NSW businesses at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards reflects the outstanding passion, professionalism and commitment of our tourism operators. Their dedication to world-class customer service is what makes NSW a leading destination for visitors from around the world. 

“Creating fresh and immersive visitor experiences is central to positioning NSW as a premier global destination. By leveraging our state’s diverse natural and cultural assets, we can build a stronger, more resilient visitor economy that delivers benefits for businesses, communities and visitors alike.”