BUSINESSES and organisations in the Post area have made the cut, having been selected as finalists in this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards, with a grand ceremony taking place in November to announce the winners.

After a record 131 judging visits to businesses and a marathon judging panel meeting, the finalists have been announced for this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony on November 2.

The annual competition saw an increase to 26 categories this year, with a new guided tour category and other developments to reflect the ever-changing nature of tourism.

One hundred and eighty entries were received from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with 75 selected as finalists who will be in suspense until the awards ceremony at the Headland Hotel, Newquay, when they will learn whether they have won gold, silver or bronze awards.

A further 18 have received the highly commended status, including Launceston Tourist Information Centre in the Visitor Information Service of the Year category, and Bude Canoe Experience and iWalk Cornwall in the Guided Tour category.

Successful businesses in the Cornwall Awards will be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2018, and possibly invited to represent Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the 2018 National VisitEngland Awards, in which Cornwall has often been the best performing county.

Mark Warnes, property and portfolio director at headline sponsors Hoseasons, said: “We are once again very proud to be supporting these awards and are very much looking forward to playing our part in recognising the efforts and achievements of tourism businesses across the region. The time, energy and money they continue to invest in their offer is what keeps people coming back year after year, and what makes this area such an enduring holiday hotspot.”

Awards organiser, Robin Barker, from Services for Tourism, added: “The response from finalists when we tell them of their selection says it all, with ‘wow, wow, wow’ being the first three words from the first respondent. Being recognised in these awards means so much to businesses, recognising their dedication, imagination and the kind of ceaseless investment that 21st century tourism requires.”

The 26 award categories cover everything from cookery schools, glamping, hotels and cafes to museums, spas and campsites. A winner of winners title and special outstanding contribution to tourism award will also be presented on the night.

In the Post area, nine businesses or organisations have made the cut in the finalist or highly commended statuses. The Old Rectory, Boscastle, is a finalist in the Bed and Breakfast of the Year category; Boscastle Farm Shop and Café has made the Café and Tearoom of the Year category; East Throne Yurts and Cottages Ltd in Bude is in with a chance in the Glamping and Alternative Accommodation category, whilst English Heritage’s Tintagel Castle is a finalist in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category.

Bude Canoe Experience and iWalk Cornwall, Tintagel, have received highly commended statuses in the Guided Tour category, whilst Launceston Tourist Information Centre is highly commended in the Visitor Information Service of the Year category, and Bude Tourist Information Centre is a finalist in the same category. The Port Gaverne Hotel in Port Isaac is a finalist in the Small/Boutique Hotel of the Year category.

On behalf of the team at Tintagel Castle, Georgia Butters, English Heritage’s head of operations in Cornwall, said: “We are delighted that Tintagel Castle have been selected as a finalist for large visitor attraction of the year at the Cornwall Tourism Awards.

“The improvements we have made on site over the past few years have been popular with visitors, but it’s great to have this extra stamp of approval. The castle was highly commended in last year’s awards, and this year we are hoping we can go one better.”

John Alden, part of iWalk Cornwall, said: “It’s fantastic to see iWalk Cornwall highly commended in the tourism awards, and we hope that it will help more holiday accommodation owners find out about us so their visitors can use our app to enjoy the walks without the fear of getting lost. Some visitors have even said that they’re now planning more holidays in Cornwall to be able to do more of our walks!

“However, the biggest accolade is from the locals who have written in to tell us that, despite living all their lives in Cornwall, they’ve discovered amazing things through our walks that they never knew about in our very special county. It’s only through the support and encouragement of the Cornish people that we’ve been able to achieve what we have, so it’s something that everyone can take a bit of pride in.”