The annual Australian Tourism Awards were held on Queensland’s Gold Coast at the end of February and saw Aussie icon Steve Irwin recognised for his contribution to the Australian tourism industry.

The tv star and owner of Australia Zoo – which also won the award for Tourism Retailing – was presented with his Services to Inbound Tourism Award by minister for small business and tourism, Fran Bailey.

Other winners included Sovereign Hill in Victoria which won the Major Tourist Attraction award, the Immigration Museum in Victoria which took the Heritage and Cultural Tourism award and Questacon National Science and Technology Centre in ACT which won the Significant Tourist Attraction for the second year in a row.

“The champions of the Australian tourism industry, from regional operators to those in our cities, have been rightfully recognised tonight. I congratulate all of the winners and finalists for their entrepreneurial skills and dedication to building our AUS$73bn industry,” said Bailey.

“I am especially pleased that Steve Irwin received a special award for Services to Inbound Tourism. Steve is one our great tourism ambassadors, absolutely loved by Americans with his unbounded enthusiasm and humour. It is a small recognition of the substantial contribution he has made to our tourism industry.”

The finalists in the awards were selected through state and territory tourism awards in the same categories held throughout 2005.