WA tourism awards in 26th year

THE Western Australian Awards began in 1972 as a joint initiative of the Fleetwood Group of Com-panies and the WA Department of Tourism to recognise individuals and organisations who had made an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.

To honour WA’s longest serving Premier and first Minister for Tourism, the award was named the Sir David Brand Award. The sole award was won in 1972 by the Leeuwin Way Committee.

In 1984 the Fleetwood company handed over responsibility to the WA Tourism Commission who developed the Australian Tourism Awards introduced in 1989.

The awards attracted a record 143 entries last year.