TICT is proud to celebrate the success of the Tassie Tour Guide Award. This award forms part of the national program administered by the Australian Tourism Industry Council and recognises the vital role guides play in delivering high quality visitor experiences.

In its inaugural year, the award has already delivered outstanding results for Tasmania. Our first winner, Cat Davidson from Inala Nature Tours, went on to achieve national recognition, taking out Australia’s Top Tour Guide Award at Parliament House in Canberra in September 2025.

This achievement highlights the exceptional quality of Tasmania’s tour guiding sector on the national stage.

The Tassie Tour Guide Award recognises exemplary tour guides and elevates the profile of the profession across the state.

The award process includes operator nomination, a written submission addressing set criteria, and an online interview with three independent judges. The written submission and interview are equally weighted. The TICT offers an optional, free Entrant Support Program to assist nominees in preparing their submissions.

The Tasmanian winner progresses to represent the state at the national awards in Canberra, continuing to build recognition for Tasmania’s world-class guiding experiences.

Programs like this not only celebrate excellence but also support professional growth. Participation encourages guides to refine their approach, deepen their knowledge, and strive for continuous improvement.

2026 Key Dates

• Online Information Session 11:00 am - Thursday 23 April 2026 Register here.
• Nominations Close - Friday 8 May 2026
• Submissions Close - Monday 25 May 2026
• Interviews (online) - Monday 15 June 2026 - Thursday 18 June 2026 (TBC)
• Winners Announced Early July 2026 - Hobart
• National Finalist Interviews (online) - Thursday 30 July (subject to change)
• Australia's Top Tour Guide Award Winner Announced Tuesday 15 September 2026 - Parliament House, Canberra

Why Enter

• Recognition for outstanding performance within the Tasmanian guiding sector
• Benchmarking against industry standards to support professional growth
• Valuable feedback from experienced judges and through the Entrant Support Program
• Opportunity for businesses to recognise and support staff while showcasing commitment to quality tourism experiences
• Encourages self reflection and continuous improvement

2026 Entrant Toolkit

Access the Tassie Tour Guide Award Toolkit for detailed guidelines, rules and entry requirements.

More information - 2026 Tassie Tour Guide Award Toolkit

2026 Entry Requirements

• Open to tour guides and driver guides operating in natural, cultural or heritage environments, in paid or volunteer roles
• Nominee must be part of a business with current Sustainable Tourism Accreditation
• Nominations are submitted via the Quality Tourism Framework portal under the business account
• Entry fee of $119.00 applies
• Written submission required, followed by an online interview for finalists

2026 Judging Process

The judging process is overseen by the state Chair of Judges and includes two components

1. Submission Review - a panel of three experienced judges will review the written submission and score individually. These scores will be combined and averaged to determine the submission score. The submission review is weighted at 50%.
2. Interview - finalists will be required to attend an online interview (approx. 30 minutes) with the judging panel. All finalists will be asked the same set of questions, which will be provided in advance. The interview is weighted at 50%.

Prizes

2026 Tassie Tour Guide FINALISTS will receive:

• 50% discount on a Full 2-Day Registration to the 2026 Tasmanian Tourism Conference to support professional development and networking

The 2026 Tassie Tour Guide Award WINNER will receive:

• Full 2-Day Registration to next year's Tasmanian Tourism Conference to support professional development and networking (valued at approx. $550)

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NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING GUIDE

Nominations and submissions must be made via the Quality Tourism Framework online portal.

Need some help? View our Step-by-Step 'How to Nominate' Guide.

For more information, please contact [email protected]