Margaret River wins Top Tourism Award

• Margaret River visitor centre honoured in GWN7 Top Tourism Award
• Award recognises contribution of visitor centres and tourism industry
• Kalbarri wins award for towns with less than 5,000 residents

Tourism Minister Kim Hames congratulated the Margaret River visitor centre for winning the 2011 GWN7 Top Tourism Award.

Dr Hames said the awards, now in their 22nd year, recognised the important contribution that visitor centres, such as the one in Margaret River, made within a town, city or region to attract and welcome visitors.

"It is great to see that the State's extraordinary towns are being recognised for providing high quality tourism facilities and experiences for visitors," he said.

"The Margaret River visitor centre is a deserving winner, working hard to promote the town's world-class wineries, restaurants, underground caves, pristine beaches and towering forests."

Kalbarri was awarded the 2011 GWN7 Top Tourism Award for towns housing less than 5,000.

Winners in The West Australian Regional Newspaper Special Category Awards included:
. Derby (Heritage)
. Broome (Culture and Environment)
. Kalbarri (Website Development)
. Kalgoorlie-Boulder (Management/Staff Training)
. Armadale (Community Relations)
. Margaret River (Special Events)

The 2011 West Australian Golden i Award, which acknowledges the outstanding contribution of visitor centre managers, went to Justine Nagorski from Denmark while Northampton took out the Vanguard Press Judges Encouragement Award, and Armadale won the RAC Travel Services Business Planning and Marketing Award.

The Minister said visitor centres played an important role in promoting Western Australia to local, national and international visitors.

"I would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners in the GWN7 Top Tourism Awards, and thank you for your contributions to making our State extraordinary," he said.

      Fact File

• Visitor Centre Association of WA represents more than 102 visitor centres
• The awards are part of the Annual Visitor Servicing Conference

Minister's office - 9222 8788