Exmouth, on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, has received national recognition after being named Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town for 2022 at the Australian Top Tourism Awards in Canberra.
The local Exmouth community was acknowledged at the awards ceremony for working together to promote the natural assets of the area.
Known as the gateway to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park, Exmouth is a popular tourism destination for diving, snorkelling, swimming and for visitors to interact with marine wildlife, including the world’s largest fish – the whale shark.
The Exmouth coastline features in the new global tourism campaign, Walking On A Dream.
The town will also be the premier location to witness the Total Solar Eclipse on 20 April 2023.
Jamie Van Jones, of Salt and Bush Eco Tours in Mandurah, received the Top Tour Guide Award, a category which was awarded at the national level for the first time this year.
Ms Van Jones was recognised for her commitment to delivering high-quality experiences for visitors by encouraging them to immerse themselves in nature and develop a deeper appreciation for the local environment.
The Australian Top Tourism Awards showcase the value of tourism to towns and communities across Australia and celebrate the diversity of regional destinations from all over the country.
The Australian Top Tourism Awards are held as part of the tourism industry’s peak awards series, the Australian Tourism Awards, which aim to recognise and promote excellence in tourism across the nation.
Presented by the Tourism Council of Australia, and supported by Tourism Australia, winners were selected from a list of finalists in their respective State awards categories by an industry judging panel and through a public voting process.
This is only the second year the Australian Top Tourism Awards have been held nationally, after being celebrated in WA for 30 years.
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
“I am delighted that Exmouth on Western Australia’s Coral Coast has been recognised as the Top Small Tourism Town at these national awards.
“Exmouth is the gateway to the Ningaloo Reef, a World Heritage listed icon, so to have it recognised at this national level highlights the town as a world-class tourism destination.
“It is also wonderful to see one of our State’s tour guides, Jamie Van Jones of Salt and Bush Eco Tours in Mandurah, receive the inaugural Top Tour Guide award for demonstrating such commitment to teaching visitors about the value of the natural environment of the Peel region.”
