Bendigo has scooped gold and Heathcote has won bronze at the 2024 TAC Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards held at a ceremony last night.
Bendigo was awarded gold in the Top Tourism Town category in recognition of another big year for tourism in the city.
The City of Greater Bendigo celebrated Bendigo Easter Festival's Year of the Dragon, the beautiful Paris exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery and the successful Bonjour Bendigo marketing campaign that brought a fun French flavour to activities and gastronomic fare.
Bendigo is highly regarded as a welcoming city and is best known for its heritage architecture, cultural attractions, beautiful parks and gardens, and food and beverage.
Heathcote won bronze in the Top Small Tourism Town category for its stunning natural landscape, boutique wineries, walking and cycling trails.
Both awards recognise Bendigo and Heathcote's strong commitment to deliver the very best experiences and high quality customer service for visitors.
Submissions were assessed based on written and video itinerary of the region, online user reviews of key attractions.
The awards from the Victoria Tourism Industry Council also provided the opportunity for the public to vote for their favourite Victorian destinations, with votes counting towards the final scores.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the awards acknowledged Greater Bendigo's incredible offerings for visitors.
"I am absolutely delighted that people have found Bendigo and Heathcote to be such wonderful and memorable places to visit," Cr Metcalf said.
"It is such a fantastic endorsement for all those who contribute to Greater Bendigo's strong reputation as a must-see destination and I thank everyone who voted for Bendigo and Heathcote.
"These awards are testament to our passionate and hard working tourism industry, as well as City staff working in a variety of roles to ensure the region always looks its best.
"Our attractions, accommodation, retail, and hospitality providers welcome visitors wholeheartedly and they are proud to offer unique experiences and service for tourists of all ages and interests.
"The staff and volunteers at the Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor Centres also provide incredible customer service guiding visitors on what to see and do. No wonder visitors can't wait to come back for more.
"Tourism is vital for our local economy because it supports a diverse range of businesses, generates job opportunities and keeps the spend local."
This is the fourth year that Bendigo and Heathcote have made the finals.
In 2022, Bendigo won gold in the Top Tourism Town category and Heathcote won bronze in the Top Small Tourism Town Award category. Bendigo went on to win silver nationally in the Australian Tourism Town Awards.
In 2023 Bendigo and Heathcote both won silver awards in the Top Tourism Awards.
