Some of the faces behind the businesses in Jugiong. Bottom Right Photo: Stephanie Hunter

The inaugural NSW Top Tourism Towns awards was announced this morning at the Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference in Port Macquarie, and despite Jugiong just falling short of the major prize there are plenty of positives to take away.

There were a total of two major accolades titled “Top Tourism Town” for both categories of Towns with a population under 5,000 residents and Towns with a population of over 5,000 residents. 

Jugiong was up against 26 other finalists in the under 5,000 residents major, which Berrima took out the top honours and Mudgee was prized as Top Tourism Town for Town with a population over 5,000 residents. 

Towns in Jugiong’s category stretched from all parts of NSW including Jindabyne, Tumbarumba and Barham to as far as Nana Glen, Pambula and Broke Fordwich. 

For the past two weeks, The Times have covered a number of local businesses in Jugiong as part of the lead up to today’s announcement. 

Although Jugiong missed out on the big day, it has been a testament for the village of just over 200 people to be put on the map for the past few weeks.

From new business ventures to attract city-dwellers to established operators looking to expand during their time in Jugiong, it is a fact that more and more entrepreneurs are calling Jugiong their home.

Profiling these businesses for the past few weeks has been quite satisfying, as many shop owners spoke words along the lines of being “grateful for the opportunity to even be recognised”, as well as being speechless if Jugiong were to win the top prize.

This year with international travel still in place and Jugiong being the perfect stop-over for those exploring their own backyards, many have commended the village with high praise on their hospitality, their picturesque site and most importantly their people. 

And there was no one else better to mention those words than earlier this month with renowned American actor Matt Damon when he stopped over in Jugiong.

Years ago Jugiong would be no more than a coffee pit-stop for those travelling on the Hume Highway, but today the main street is filled with many businesses such as Parlour J Health and Beauty, Woodstock Resources, Jugiong Motor Inn, Sir George, Jugiong Wine Cellar, Curators Collectives, and Quirky Crow as we have covered in the past couple of weeks.

There are a number of other businesses in Jugiong that we will be covering for the next few weeks that have also boosted local tourism. 

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said regional visitor economies are on the road to recovery, and the Destination NSW and Roy Morgan Weekly Visitor Tourism Tracking Index shows that the total number of visitors across regional NSW is approximately 20 per cent above where we were at mid-October last year.

“The data tells us that in the last six weeks alone, interstate travel has risen and 36 per cent of visitors to regional NSW are interstate visitors, up from 23 per cent in mid-February,” he said.

“These vibrant communities with unique visitor experiences, authentic hospitality and world-class tourism operators make NSW the envy of all other states, and the place to be when it comes to regional Australian escapes.

“These awards showcase NSW’s strengths, and with the ‘visitor-first’ approach shown by the 52 entrants, the program is a great platform to demonstrate our State is in a fantastic position to be the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030.”

The awards are managed by the NSW Tourism Industry Council, and celebrate towns with a population of less than 5000, and a population of more than 5000.

Entrants submitted a short video, itinerary and editorial article which was reviewed by a judging committee of 14 industry experts and it was said to be competitive with a field of 52 nominations.

More than 15,000 people casted their votes for the Top Tourism Town prize.

Full list of award winners:

Top Tourism Town population less than 5000 residents

    •    Winner – Berrima

    •    Highly Commended – Carcoar

Top Tourism Town population greater than 5000 residents

    •    Winner – Mudgee

    •    Highly Commended – Orange

Judges Choice Awards

    •    Most Inspiring Editorial: Oberon

    •    Most Captivating Video: Tumbarumba

    •    Most Compelling Itinerary: Ettalong Beach

Christopher Tan