It is the kudos the region needs after two years of challenge and adversity from bushfires, to floods and a health pandemic that put the brakes on travel and business.

Council is thrilled to be among the best in the state saying a strong and collaborative approach tourism will be the key to the region's recovery.

Read more: Economic and social spin-off as region opens to Sydneysiders

Liesa Davies, council's group manager economic and cultural development, said setting up the region as a premier destination will drive future growth.

"Council has worked for many years in partnership with the local tourism industry towards our goal to sustainably grow the local visitor economy and strengthen the appeal of the destination by attracting overnight visitors to stay longer and spend more," Ms Davies said.

"The past two years have been radically different to any other we have experienced. Our submission to the 2021 NSW Tourism Awards talks to this period, to the model of collaboration and engagement with business and community that council embraced to support in navigating these challenges.

"It highlights initiatives, projects, marketing and industry communications implemented to attract or maintain visitation to the region and support our regional tourism businesses' survival and recovery in the wake of catastrophic events.

"The challenges thrown at us these past two years have provided incentive for reflection and renewal, to focus on the things we do well and what we can do better.

"By working with our community and industry, our visitor economy will emerge stronger, refocused and more united."

The state's peak tourism organisation, NSW Tourism Industry Council, has lauded the standard of finalists across the state this year.

"The NSW Tourism Awards are a celebration of the outstanding innovation and resilience demonstrated again and again by our magnificent industry over the past two years," said NSW Tourism Industry Council executive manager, Greg Binskin.

"It's been an extremely challenging period for the NSW visitor economy and after a break in 2020, the return of the NSW Tourism Awards demonstrates the renewed energy of the visitor economy and celebrates the people, places, and vibrant culture of our feel-good state, NSW.

"The Tourism Awards categories recognise the broad range of services and experiences across the broader visitor economy.

"It is impressive to see the number of operators and regions who made the most of lockdowns and restricted travel to build new visitor experiences and worked together to attract domestic visitors to their regions.

"After a break last year, the 2021 awards are our opportunity to showcase NSW's 'visitor first' approach and our strengths in digital innovation, high-quality product and collaborative efforts.

"These awards are managed by the NSW Tourism Industry Council in partnership with the NSW government and Destination NSW, and we look forward to celebrating a path to recovery, re-energise the industry and unify all who are working hard to build back better."

Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said this year's finalists embodied the resilient nature of the NSW visitor economy.

"Tourism is an important driver and essential part of the NSW economy," Mr Ayres said.

"The NSW Tourism awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise the thousands of individuals who have worked tirelessly during this difficult time, and a great platform to demonstrate why our State is in a fantastic position to be the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030."

The NSW Tourism Award Winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner on 3 February 2022.

Winners in the designated national award categories will represent NSW at the Australian Tourism Awards to be held on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, 18 March 2022.

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