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Categories & Criteria
The South Australian Tourism Awards offer 27 business categories and 2 individual categories to choose from. Entrants are permitted to enter more than one category.
- Written submission (minimum 4,000 words | maximum 7,500 words) with supporting imagery.
- Digital review – taking into account your digital and online presence against set criteria.
- Consumer rating – a look at your guest satisfaction and reviews, explored via ReviewPro.
- Validation review – a chance for our judges to verify your business and visitor experience.
Entry requirements and weighting do vary in each category. Please pay close attention to your chosen category’s criteria for exact score allocation and question set.
Nominations for Categories 1-26 for the 2026 South Australian Tourism Awards are now closed.
Nominations and submissions for Categories 27 and 28 are open until Monday 21 September.
*Please note these categories and criteria are subject to minor changes (most recent versions as of 25/03/2026).
1. Major Tourist Attractions
This category recognises natural or built attractions that people visit for pleasure and interest. Entrants in this category attract amongst the highest visitor numbers during the qualifying period for their State/Territory.
Major Tourist Attractions would see over 100,001 annual visitors to the attraction.
2. Tourist Attractions
This category recognises natural or built attractions that people visit for pleasure and interest. Entrants in this category attract significant visitor numbers during the qualifying period for their State/Territory.
Tourist Attractions would see under 100,000 annual visitors to the attraction.
3. Major Festivals and Events
This category recognises tourism leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile/awareness and appeal of the destination they are held in as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.
This category is open to (but not limited to) sporting, arts, historical, cultural, literary, comedy, culinary and general interest festivals, events and exhibitions with local, interstate and international visitor attendance over 50,000 or recognised by the STO as a major event on their event calendar.
4. Festivals and Events
This category recognises tourism leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile/awareness and appeal of the destination they are held in as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.
This category is open to (but not limited to) sporting, arts, historical, cultural, literary, humorous, culinary and general interest festivals, events and exhibitions with local, interstate and international visitor attendance under 50,000 or NOT recognised by the STO as a major event on their event calendar.
5. Ecotourism
This category recognises ecologically sustainable tourism businesses with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas. Entrants in this category foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
6. Cultural Tourism
This category recognises tourism businesses that foster a greater understanding and appreciation of authentic culture, history, heritage and/or the arts.
7. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences
This category recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism businesses that demonstrate authenticity and cultivate a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and traditions.
8. Tourism Retail, Hire & Services
This category recognises businesses that sell/provide goods or hire services which contribute to the tourism industry. The contribution made to the tourism industry can be economical (e.g. retail, galleries), experience based (traditionally non-tourism specific experiences e.g. shopping precincts) or service based (e.g. digital solutions for travellers or tourism businesses).
9. Visitor Information Services
This category recognises the consistent delivery of high quality and face to face information services to the visitor. This category is open to Visitor Information Centres/Tourist Offices, Local Tourist Associations and Regional Tourism Organisations.
10. Business Event Venues
This category recognises venues who provide high quality facilities specifically designed for business visitors e.g. meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
11. Major Tour and Transport Operators
This category recognises a business who makes a major contribution in the combined provision of touring and transport services. This category is open to businesses with 15 or more annual full-time equivalent employees.
12. Tour and Transport Operators
This category recognises a business who makes a major contribution in the combined provision of touring and transport services. This category is open to businesses with fewer than 15 annual full-time equivalent employees.
13. Adventure Tourism
This category recognises outdoor adventure tourism experiences that involve visitor participation and a personal challenge.
14. Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
This category recognises creativity and innovation in the promotion of tourism products, services and/or destinations. The focus can be for a specific singular or ongoing campaign or ongoing integrated marketing approach delivering innovative marketing/campaigns that supports the promotion of the tourism industry.
This category is open to digital enterprises, Regional Tourism Organisations, Local Tourist Associations, Visitor Information Centres, Online Travel Agents, local government and marketing alliances. This is not for individual tourism products.
15. Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
This category recognises all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience and/or servicing the tourism industry. It is not a food award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. This category is open to hotel or stand-alone restaurants, event caterers, pubs and cafés.
16A. Tourism Wineries
Category 16A recognises wineries that offer a cellar door experience and create a significant contribution to tourism.
Category 16 will be separated into two divisions:
- Tourism Wineries
- Tourism Breweries & Distilleries.
This will occur at the South Australian level only.
A gold medal will be awarded to the winner of each division in the South Australian Tourism Awards. However, only the highest-scoring winner will progress as a finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards.
16B. Tourism Distilleries and Breweries
Category 16B recognises distilleries and boutique breweries that offer a cellar door experience and create a significant contribution to tourism.
Category 16 will be separated into two divisions:
- Tourism Wineries
- Tourism Breweries & Distilleries.
This will occur at the South Australian level only.
A gold medal will be awarded to the winner of each division in the South Australian Tourism Awards. However, only the highest-scoring winner will progress as a finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards.
17. Caravan and Holiday Parks
This category recognises tourism excellence in a caravan or holiday park. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to caravan or holiday parks that offer cabin and tenting accommodation and must meet a 3 – 5 Caravan & Holiday Park Star Rating Standard.
18. Hosted Accommodation
Serviced apartments, hotels and resorts should consider entry into one of categories 21-24 which best fit their product. For companies that are managing multiple properties they should focus on one of their properties.
19. Unique Accommodation
This category recognises tourism excellence in accommodation providing a unique tourism experience that includes an overnight accommodation experience with an included activity. The focus of this award is on the uniqueness of the tourism experience.
This category is open to properties developed around unconventional accommodation infrastructure that includes an activity (passive or active). Entry is open – but not limited to – tented holidays, houseboats, tree houses, underground accommodation and yacht charters.
20. Self-Contained Accommodation
This category recognises tourism excellence in accommodation providing guests with nonserviced accommodation and the freedom of self-sufficiency. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation that offers a self-catered accommodation experience and meets a 3-5 Self Catering Accommodation Star Rating Standard.
For companies that are managing multiple self-contained properties – they should focus on one of their properties.
21. 3-3.5 Star Accommodation
This category recognises serviced accommodation that meets the 3-3.5 Star Rating standard (pre-assessment or final rating). The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation experiences that meets a 3 to 3.5 Star Rating Standard in any Star Rating category.
22. 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
This category recognises serviced accommodation that meets the 4 or 4.5 Star Rating Standard (pre-assessment or final rating). The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation experiences that meets a 4 or 4.5 Star Rating Standard in any Star Rating category.
23. 5 Star Luxury Accommodation
This category recognises serviced accommodation that meets the 5 Star Rating Standard (pre-assessment or final rating). The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation experiences that meets a 5 Star Rating Standard in any Star Rating category.
24. New Tourism Business
This category recognises new tourism businesses that have commenced trading, visitation, or service delivery during the qualifying period. This award recognises excellence in the planning and development of new tourism infrastructure and/or services.
Existing tourism businesses that have commenced a new product or opened new infrastructure need to enter another category most applicable to the business.
25. Excellence in Food Tourism
This category is open to food producers, providores, tour operators, cooking schools, food attractions, farm gate experiences, farmers markets, trails and other food tourism experiences in the State/Territory, featuring the State/Territory produce as the core component.
26. Excellence in Accessible Tourism
This award recognises businesses that provide a tourism product, experience or service that goes above and beyond to accommodate and cater for people with disabilities and/or specific needs e.g. hearing impairment, low vision, limited mobility, wheelchair/scooter needs and/or cognitive impairment.
27. Outstanding Contribution
This award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual or couple in the South Australian Tourism Industry. It honours those who have made a truly exceptional contribution to the development of the South Australian tourism industry, usually over a period of time, through their investments, leadership, advocacy, professional or voluntary service. This award particularly recognises those who go over and above their own commercial/business focus to contribute to the broader industry.
28. Young Achiever
The award recognises an outstanding young tourism professional (30 years of age or younger) and their commitment and contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional tourism industry in South Australia.
The SA Tourism Awards are sponsored by Tourism Australia.