THERE'S tremendous pent-up demand among seniors to get back on the roads again. And one great source of ideas will be from among the entrants in the 2021 Grey Nomads Awards.
Entries are now open and will be judged in November, with winners announced at the Art of Attraction Tourism Summit in Caloundra on March 2-4 next year.
And if last year's winners at the industry event are any guide, there will be some great contenders.
Twelve categories are up for grabs, encompassing caravan parks, pub stays, festivals, events, tours, attractions and more. Entrants might include zoos, aquariums, visitor centres, wineries, food businesses, and places of art, history, science, agriculture, nature, culture and entertainment.
Last year's winners included CMCA RV Park Temora (Temora, NSW), Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery (Karumba, Qld), Charlotte Plains Outback Magic (Cunnamulla, Qld) and Riverbend Caravan Park Renmark (Renmark, SA).
This year sees the return of the Best Grey Nomads Volunteer Program category, which could not be run in 2020. Instead, the Kimba Community Development group, which won in 2019, was applauded for providing a week's free access to a powered camping site at Kimba Recreation Reserve in return for two days of volunteer work.
Judging is by tourism professionals, some of whom have also been grey nomads.
