Busselton nominated for top award

Busselton has been entered in the 2011 GWN7 Top Tourism Awards with a nomination submitted by the Busselton Visitor Centre this week.

Visitor Centre Association of Western Australia executive officer Dee Smith said while individual centres made the submissions, each had to show how they worked with partners in the community to attract and welcome visitors and ensure “the whole experience came together”.

The Geographe Bay region most recently won with Dunsborough in 2007, and Busselton last claimed the honour in 2005.

Visitor centre manager Matt Norton said the nomination of Busselton was timely, coinciding with developments such as the jetty reopening and an 85 per cent increase in tour sales from last year.

He said the centre introduced a tour desk, new shelving display and helped increase the number of members which could “show their inventory live” through the BookEasy website available from within the centre.

Applications covering a range oftourism-related sections are due in early July and finalists will be announced on July 22 followed by judge site visits in August.

Mr Norton said staff would demonstrate their passion and knowledge of the region.

“More than anything, the visitor centre staff are getting a great kick out of it,” he said.

“They would be really proud to plan the famil (familirisation) for the judges.”