Manjimup Visitor Centre named finalist in multiple categories of 2021 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards

The face of tourism in Manjimup has been recognised as a finalist in multiple categories of the 2021 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards. The Manjimup Visitor Centre was announced as a finalist in both the tourism retail and hire services and visitor information services categories. Centre manager Samantha Hill said the team had been working hard to lift the profile of Manjimup on the tourism scene. “Especially with COVID, I think it’s been really important to let people know that we have such an amazing place to come and visit and a lot of things within it,” she said. “So we’ve been really pushing, within the visitor centre team and the committee, to really lift that profile. “We were glad, but we have been working really hard in that space so we’re really thankful that they are finally seeing us in that light.” This comes after the centre also won silver in the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards earlier in the year. Ms Hill said she believed the Southern Forests region as a whole was “stepping up in status” with its coastal counterparts in the South West. “I know Margaret River and Busselton etc. have had a lot of the limelight but I think it’s our turn now,” she said. “We were silver in the Top Tourism Town Awards, so to come second against Busselton, and bronze was Exmouth, that’s a pretty big step up and it’s put our name out there. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil, so we’ve got to keep banging on the door and getting people to see us.” In the tourism and retail hire services category, the centre will be up against the likes of Vasse Virgin, House of Honey and the Sticky Spoon Cafe, Unplug Rentals and Willie Creek Pearls. Ms Hill said the team had a few things in the pipeline at the centre. “Keep an eye out for the Manjimup Visitor Centre team,” she said. “We’re more than a visitor centre, we’ve got a beautiful gift shop with a lot of local produce and products — our mantra here is to support local as much as we can. So check us out and have a chat and see what we’re up to.” The lower South West was also well represented in the self-contained accommodation category, with the Chestnut Brae and Diamond Forest Farm Stay both being named finalists. Winners of the awards are set to be announced at a gala dinner on November 13.