Questacon Wins National Tourism Award

23 February 2003 and 25 February 2006

Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra is thrilled to have won the SIGNIFICANT TOURISM ATTRACTION AWARD at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Questacon was confident of a strong showing this year. There have been plenty of recent successes at the Centre as well as improvements behind the scenes. More people than ever have had fun with interactive science at Questacon.

Questacon has had great results throughout the last financial year, with our visitor numbers steadily increasing. In the last year an astonishing 1, 213, 661 people participated in the various Questacon programs. Questacon is always looking for new and innovative ways to make science fun and accessible to all, and this year was no exception.

The unique Questacon building is filled with over 200 hands-on science exhibits including an earthquake house, world-class holograms and a scary six metre slide that goes straight down. Kids love Questacon because it is so much fun, while parents and teachers love to see the children’s eyes being opened to the wonders of science.

This year many visitor programs were expanded and improved, including the spectacular science drama shows, popular puppet shows for the littlies, and even night-time visits for interstate school groups. Advances have been made behind the scenes as well, with our theatre upgraded and made more accessible to our hearing impaired visitors.

Improving on this year’s success will be a tough job, but the dedicated and talented team at Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre will be giving it their best shot.

1 March 2008

Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre, was awarded the Tourist Attraction Award at last night’s Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

“This award is a great credit to the entire team at Questacon, and in particular the work of our enthusiastic and dedicated frontline staff” said Questacon Director, Professor Graham Durant.

The annual Australian Tourism Awards showcase the best of the nation’s tourism operators and promote, encourage and reward tourism excellence. The win highlights Questacon’s role as a significant national tourist attraction.

“To be recognised for our contribution to Australia’s tourism industry in this our 20th anniversary year is truly an honour,” Professor Durant said.

“Questacon makes a significant economic impact as part of the overall Canberra tourism product and a longer term contribution to the national innovation system by inspiring and motivating young Australians through our various interactive exhibitions, programs and science theatre”.

Questacon has previously won the Award in this category in 2002-3 and 2005.

In the last financial year more than 400 000 people visited Questacon in Canberra, 340 000 people experienced a Questacon outreach programme in regional, rural and remote Australia and a further 1.2 million people experienced a Questacon travelling exhibition at centres across Australia and abroad.

Questacon opened in 1988 as a joint Australia-Japan Bicentennial Project and the organisation is actively looking to the future by considering various expansion options to ensure that it remains relevant and useful for the next 20 years.