Tweed tops for tourism

TWEED businesses have taken home a swag of honours at the 2024 NSW Tourism Awards.

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail was named the top tourist attraction in the state while Tweed Tourism Company took home the award for best tourism and marketing campaign.

Farm-to-table restaurant Potager at Carool won gold in the tourism restaurants and catering services category, with Pipit Restaurant at Pottsville winning silver.

Husk Distillers at North Tumbulgum also received silver for tourism wineries, distilleries and breweries, while Cape Byron Distillery at McLeods Shoot got bronze.

In a bittersweet development, Bluesfest Byron Bay, which will be held for the last time in 2025, won gold in the major festivals and events category.

Let’s Go Surfing, which has schools in Byron Bay and Sydney, won silver for adventure tourism, while luxury hinterland retreat The Brooklet got bronze in the best new tourism business category.

The NSW Tourism Association announced the winners at a gala event at The Star Sydney on Thursday night.

Winners of the awards, which were supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will now represent the state at the Australian Tourism Awards.

NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward congratulated all the winners and finalists.

“The benchmark for the NSW Tourism Awards this year was high, so to be recognised as a finalist or one of our winners is a huge achievement,” she said.

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said tourism in the state is set for incredible growth over the next decade, but its success rests on the hard work and hospitality of the people working across the industry.

“These awards are about recognising those people,” he said.