Ningaloo tourism operators in awards mix

The North West Cape is expected to again feature heavily in the 2017 WA Tourism Awards, with seven businesses nominated for six of 29 award categories this year.

The awards finalists were announced recently, with winners to be crowned at a gala dinner on November 11.

Ningaloo Discovery was nominated for three awards, while Live Ningaloo, Three Islands Whale Shark Dive and Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef each received two nominations. Sail Ningaloo, Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort and Exmouth Holidays each received a nomination.

The ecotourism category is set to be competitive this year, with eight of 10 nominations coming from the North West, five from the Ningaloo Coast and three from Broome and surrounds.

Clinton Walker’s Ngurrangga Tours is the sole nomination from the Pilbara this year.

Mr Walker will be up against Kooljaman at Cape Leveque and Narlijia Cultural Tours in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism category.

Helispirit, which operates in the Pilbara and Kimberley, and Aviair, which is considering interconnected flights in the Pilbara, have also been announced as finalists.

Helispirit will be up against three Ningaloo businesses in the adventure tourism section.

Australia’s North West’s Epic Pilbara campaign, which featured local operators talking about experiences available, is a finalist in the destination marketing category.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said WA’s operators were passionate about offering experiences to visitors.