National Tourism Awards a win for Launceston

Published on 27 September 2017

The City of Launceston is delighted at the news that the 2018 National Tourism Awards will be held in the picturesque settings of the Cataract Gorge.

Mayor Albert van Zetten described the announcement that Launceston will host the awards as a major coup for the city.

"This is an extremely exciting announcement for Launceston and it's a credit to the tourism industry as a whole and to all those involved in making this a reality," Mayor van Zetten said.

The award ceremony will be held in mid-February 2019 and is expected to attract more than 800 award finalists, tourism leaders and industry stakeholders from across the country.

"This will be the largest tourism event ever held in Launceston — and only the second time the event has been held outside a capital city," Mayor van Zetten said.

"Tourism is such an important industry not only for Tasmania, but for Launceston, and to be granted the 2018 awards ceremony is a huge feather in our city's cap.

"We know that the Cataract Gorge is one of the most significant tourism attractions in this state.

"We believe there's no better location in our beautiful city to host an event of this magnitude, giving it a truly unique backdrop.

"I have no doubt it will be a hugely successful event in what is a spectacular setting.

"And it's important to thank the Premier Will Hodgman, who personally contacted the chairman of the Australian Tourism Industry Council and requested that Launceston be considered for the 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards — the premier event on the Australian tourism calendar."