City of Wagga Wagga has been recognised for innovation and dedication to the tourism industry at the recent 2025 NSW Tourism Awards.
City of Wagga Wagga received gold in the Local Government Award for Tourism and was a finalist for Festival of W 2024 in the Major Events and Festivals category.
Council's Destination and Events Coordinator Cassandra Farquharson said this recognition highlights the city's leadership in tourism and events planning and development.
"The awards are a testament to the excellence, dedication and innovation of the passionate tourism industry operators we work so closely with," Ms Farquharson said.
"It is an outstanding achievement for Wagga Wagga to be recognised at such a high industry level, and we also extend our congratulations to all of the Wagga Wagga + Surrounds operators who were nominated or successful in receiving gold, silver or bronze.
"Tourism and events contribute significantly to our region's economy, and this industry recognition shows the strength, momentum and ambition of the sector in our region."
The NSW Tourism Awards are the state's highest honour for operators, events and organisations, recognising those who set new standards in visitor experience and industry excellence.
This year, a record 230 nominations were received, with 125 finalists selected across 30 competitive categories.
Council's newly endorsed Wagga Wagga Destination Management Plan 2025–2034 was central to the city winning gold in the Local Government Award for Tourism.
The plan aims to boost annual visitation to 1.55 million by 2035, attracting an additional 350,000 visitors.
Festival of W, as one of the city's largest destination events, is a major driver of this growth. Festival of W 2024, welcomed more than 100,000 attendees, with 30 percent travelling from outside the region.
Congratulations to all the Wagga Wagga Tourism Partners including The Silos Accommodation who won gold in the New Tourism Business category, and who will now represent NSW at the Australian Tourism Awards announced in March 2026.
Kestrel Nest Eco Hut took out silver in the Ecotourism category, and Wagga Wagga-based Bundyi Cultural Tours was also awarded silver in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences award category.
