Tourism New Zealand wins another travel and tourism 'Oscar'

Tourism New Zealand has been voted Australasia's Leading Tourist Board in the 2011 World Travel Awards for the second year in a row.

The prestigious awards have previously been described by the Wall Street Journal, as the 'Oscars' of travel and tourism.

This year, 213,000 industry professionals participated in the voting process, which is scrupulously monitored and independently audited. Tourism New Zealand was one of the nominees in the Australasian section of the World's Leading Tourism Board category, alongside boards from Australia and the South Pacific.

Tourism New Zealand took first place in the category last year, beating Tourism Australia, which won the award in 2009.

The win was announced at a major red-carpet awards gala ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, early this morning New Zealand time.

Tourism New Zealand's chief executive Kevin Bowler said, "This is a real honour. To be recognised by our industry peers from around the world for the work we do in promoting New Zealand as a destination is particularly special, and further endorses our long running 100% Pure New Zealand marketing message and our move to deliver more of the campaign via digital channels."

The World Travel Awards were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Votes are cast by tourism professionals including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations in over 160 countries across the globe.