TNZ wins international tourism award for the third year running

Tourism New Zealand has been voted Australasia's Leading Tourist Board in the 2012 World Travel Awards for the third year running.

The win was announced at a red-carpet awards gala ceremony in Singapore on Thursday 18 October.

Tourism New Zealand was a nominee in the Australasian section of the World's Leading Tourism Board category, alongside boards from Australia, Fiji, Tahiti and the Cook Islands.

Tourism New Zealand's Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says, "It is a real honour to be awarded in this category for the third year running. To be recognised by the international tourism industry for the work we are doing in marketing New Zealand is a great achievement and further confirms the success of our 100% Pure New Zealand campaign, our hosted media programme, and the work we do with travel partners."

This year the Grand Tour sees WTA stage gala ceremonies in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Americas, Asia and Australasia, and Europe.

All regional winners will then compete head to head in a final round of voting to decide who will triumph in WTA's world awards - the winners are announced on the night of the WTA Grand Final on the 12th of December.

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.

To read more about Award Winning New Zealand.