Central Coast Council celebrates success at 2025 NSW Tourism Awards

The Central Coast has reaffirmed its position as one of NSW’s leading destinations, proudly taking home two Silver Awards at the 2025 NSW Tourism Awards, held on 27 November at Waterview in Bicentennial Park.

Presented by the NSW Tourism Association, these prestigious awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements across the state’s tourism industry.

Council took out Silver in the Local Government Award for Tourism as well as Silver for the Visitor Information Services category.  Council was also a Finalist in the Tourism Marketing and Campaigns category.

Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the awards highlight the power of collaboration between Council, local tourism operators and the community.

“Securing Silver in two categories at the NSW Tourism Awards is a fantastic achievement for the Central Coast. It reflects the strength and spirit of our region, and the dedication of everyone working to make the Coast a leading destination,” Mayor McKinna said.

“Tourism on the Coast isn’t just about attracting visitors, it’s about creating opportunities for local businesses, showcasing our natural beauty and building pride in the place we call home.”

Leading up to last night’s announcement, Council had been named a finalist in all three categories entered:

•    Local Government Award for Tourism – recognises excellence in initiatives supporting tourism development and industry partnerships.
•    Tourism Marketing & Campaigns – for innovative marketing showcasing the Central Coast as a premier ECO destination.
•    Visitor Information Services – delivering high quality visitor information services at the Central Coast Visitor Information Centre based at The Entrance.

Key achievements from Council’s submissions included:
•    Delivering 24 destination marketing campaigns, achieving 36.5 million impressions on LoveCentralCoast.com.
•    ECO Certified operators achieving an impressive Global Review Index (GRI) score of 92.5%, reflecting strong engagement and visitor satisfaction.
•    Welcoming over 30,000 visitors to the Central Coast Visitor Centre, with a 24% increase in sales through new consumable and locally made products.

Congratulations also to Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, which won the Gold Award for 4-4.5 Star Accommodation and Silver in the Business Event Venues category.

Council is proud to stand alongside such passionate tourism leaders who continue to raise the bar for creativity, professionalism and innovation.

To discover experiences, attractions and events that showcase the best of our region, visit LoveCentralCoast.com

ENDS

Image L-R: Central Coast Council’s Brooke Longford Team Leader Visitor Services, Sue Ledingham Unit Manager Customer Marketing and Economic Development, Myra Pettinger Team Leader Tourism and Marketing and Bianca Gilmore Section Manager Marketing and Visitor Economy