Ayers Rock Resort has once again been awarded the Qantas Australian Tourism Award, the highest accolade in Australian Tourism, for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism in 2016, making it the the second year in a row to win the prestigious award.

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Award highlights tourism operations that demonstrate authenticity and integrity in fostering a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and traditions.

Andrew Williams, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are delighted that our ongoing commitment to authentic Indigenous guest experiences and Indigenous employment has been recognised once again at the highest level in Australia.”

Ayers Rock Resort was recognised for its delivery of a daily suite of free Indigenous guest activities that include bush yarns, garden walks, spear and boomerang throwing, dance and theatre performances and more, as well as its significant advances in Indigenous employment, training and development. The Resort won the Indigenous Tourism accolade in the 2014 Australian Tourism Awards and was a silver finalist in the 2013 awards.

“This is a great achievement and an endorsement of our team's dedication to provide meaningful Indigenous encounters for our guests,” added Andrew.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan, said Ayers Rock Resort fully deserved industry recognition for the work it had done this year and over a longer period in championing Indigenous tourism.

“A key element within our international marketing activities is increasing awareness, interest and participation in Indigenous tourism.

“Ayers Rock Resort continues to invest heavily in delivering exactly the sort of authentic Indigenous experiences that today's international travellers are seeking out. What's really pleasing is that the great work going on behind the scenes, in terms of training and employment, is translating into increased bookings and satisfied visitors,” he said.

The Australian Tourism Awards were established by the Federal Government in 1985 and are the tourism industry's peak awards, celebrating and promoting excellence in tourism.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Andrew Williams at ATE contact Karena Noble, Director of Public Relations, Karena.noble@voyages.com.au.

About Ayers Rock Resort

Ayers Rock Resort provides a variety of accommodation from the premium Sails in the Desert Hotel, Award-winning Desert Gardens Hotel, self-contained Emu Walk Apartments, the authentic Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge and Ayers Rock Campground. Ayers Rock Resort is managed by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.

About Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and manages tourism and resorts on its behalf. Voyages offers unique experiences and cultural immersion in spectacular locations around Australia including Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory, Home Valley Station in The Kimberley in Western Australia and the Mossman Gorge Centre, in Tropical North Queensland.

One of the key responsibilities of Voyages is to promote and sustain eco tourism, protecting pristine sites for many years to come. Voyages works collaboratively with local communities to assist them to exercise sustainable environmental tourism practices, respecting and supporting the local Indigenous cultures and offering employment and training opportunities to the local and broader Australian and Torres-Strait Islander Indigenous communities

Profits from all business activities are re-invested in the Indigenous and resort experiences and through the various training and development programs in place around Australia.