New South Wales’ burgeoning meals and wine hub of Mudgee has held onto its crown for Australia’s prime tourism city for a second yr operating, proving the primary time was no fluke.

The NSW Central Tablelands city was awarded the title at Australia’s High Tourism Awards 2022 in a ceremony held in Canberra on Tuesday.

Mudgee Area Tourism appearing chief government Leianne Murphy put the large win all the way down to the city’s “neighborhood spirit”.

“We collaborate with over 50 native family-owned companies and the collaborative strategy that we now have is completely a standout,” Murphy informed Traveller.

The tourism government mentioned the formidable activity that was set three years in the past – to be probably the most beloved vacation spot in Australia – is paying off.

“To realize this for the second yr operating is completely an enormous accolade and showcases the final three or 4 years of labor,” mentioned Murphy.

The NSW wine area beat out regional favourites Bendigo in Victoria (silver), and Mandurah in Western Australia (bronze), with Australian Tourism Trade Council (ATIC) members describing the 2022 competitors as fierce.

“With its wonderful meals and wine scene and passionate native operators, Mudgee actually is an genuine nation city expertise to not be missed,” mentioned senior director NSW Tourism Trade Council Paula Martin.

Native operators are already celebrating. Sophie Storey, who runs Blue Wren Farm in Eurunderee together with her husband Nick, mentioned having Mudgee recognised for the second yr in a row is nice for enterprise.

“This recognition reaffirms what an unimaginable tourism expertise Mudgee has to supply and we’re so proud to be part of it,” Storey mentioned.

The couple lately launched an onsite restaurant, The Barn, together with a novel government-supported initiative that encourages native producers to change recent produce grown at dwelling for a meal or retailer credit score.

Storey famous: “[The award] offers an unimaginable alternative for us to showcase the meals and wine from our area to a broader market.”

Martin mentioned collaboration and “considering exterior the sq.” had been key to the success of city and tourism operators.

“Home tourism is unquestionably on the rise with many operators telling us that their ahead bookings are at capability as Australians hunt down genuine and distinctive experiences,” Martin provides. “Spending time in our regional cities is sweet for enterprise and helps to construct the variety of tourism experiences throughout the State.”

The celebrated award announcement comes throughout one of many city’s main annual occasions, Mudgee Wine and Meals Month (September 2 – October 3, 2022), which sees native wine and meals producers from Mudgee and surrounds host occasions every weekend.

Lodging demand within the area has soared on the again of such occasions, Murphy says, with travellers more and more reserving additional prematurely and staying longer.

And guests are not simply staying on weekends, in response to Murphy.

“Guests now love coming midweek. Due to office flexibility we’re now discovering Mondays are one of many busiest days within the area,” mentioned Murphy.

Different award classes on the tourism showcase targeted on “tiny” and “small” Australian cities with huge tourism prospects.

Strahan, a historic harbour-side village on Tasmania’s east coast, topped the Tiny Tourism City class, whereas WA Coral Coast hotspot Exmouth, generally known as the gateway to the well-known Ningaloo Marine Park, nabbed the gong for finest Small Tourism City.

Australian Tourism Trade Council (ATIC) chair, Evan Corridor, mentioned the awards goal to have fun the variety and excellent regional locations from all around the nation.

“The awards type a part of the brand new High quality Tourism Framework which mixes a number of tourism accreditation, enterprise improvement and awards applications right into a single, user-friendly on-line software to develop tourism companies of all sizes throughout Australia to develop their market,” mentioned Corridor.

Phillipa Harrison, managing director of Tourism Australia, mentioned these tourism cities are the entrance line of nice customer experiences, doing their half to make Australia extra fascinating after a troublesome two years.

“Collaboration inside, and throughout, these cities and communities is essential to rising visitation, dispersal and due to this fact restoration.”