Southern tourism operators figured prominently at the Tourism Industry Awards 2008 announced at the Trenz 2008 tourism conference in Rotorua yesterday.
The Grand Mercure St Moritz is a finalist in the visitor accommodation category, along with a Katikati naturist park.
Kiwi Discovery and Shotover Canyon Swing, both of Queenstown, will vie for top honours in the visitor activities and attractions, competing against the likes of the New Plymouth's Womad festival.
"It is a great honour to be nominated and it is recognition of the hard work we have put in," Kiwi Discovery general manager Tim Barke said.
Winner of the award last year, Real Journeys and Stewart Island Experience has been nominated for the Doc Conservation in Action Award, along with Nomad Safaris, of Queenstown.
"The nomination recognises all the efforts we have put in over the years, the staff, customers, everybody involved," Real Journeys chief executive Dave Hawkey said.
Skydive Lake Wanaka has also been nominated for a Westpac Small Tourism Operator Award.
The winners of the annual awards will be announced at the Tourism Industry Awards celebrations in Christchurch on August 5.
Tourism
• Tourism is the world's fastest-growing industry.
• New Zealand tourism arrivals have increased by 61% since 1999 to 2.4 million.
• Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years.
• Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector. International visitors contributed $8.3 billion to the economy in the year ended March 2006. That is 19.2% of exports.
• Domestic tourism contributes $10.3 billion to the economy each year.
• Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10% of the workforce. That is one in 10 jobs in New
Zealand.
• Tourism represents 8.9% ($12.8 billion) of gross domestic product and generates $531 million in
returns from international visitors each year.
• Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.
