The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo is hoping to be back to back winners in the festivals and events having taken out the award last year while Cobbold Village is hoping to win the hosted accommodation section.

A Rodeo delegation is heading to Perth for the awards as they promote a new video ahead of the Rodeo’s 60^th Anniversary in August.

The video filmed at the 2017 event celebrates what’s best about the Rodeo.

Cobbold Gorge Tours meanwhile offers tours of the spectacular gorge near Forsayth on the Gulf Savannah Way and was highly commended in its category in the Queensland Tourism awards, while the Isa Rodeo won its category.

Chair of the Australian Tourism Awards and QTIC Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind said they were among over 20 of Queensland’s national finalists which offered unforgettable experiences and world-class service.

“We are very proud of the Queensland finalists who are representing our state and take our hats off to the 225,000 hardworking families and staff employed in our industry who provide wonderful experiences to visitors every day,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The quality of finalists from across the country in race for gold is very high.”

Mr Gschwind said 2017 was a milestone year for Australia’s tourism industry with 7.9 million people visiting cities and regions throughout the country.

“Visitors spent a phenomenal $122.9 billion with $25 billion being spent in Queensland,” he said.

“Money being spent by international and domestic travellers supports a wide range of industries across the nation and in turn supports regional communities across the nation.”