Nominations to crown WA’s Top Tourist Town closing this week

Time is running out for communities across the Southern Forests region to cast their nomination for WA’s coveted Top Tourism Town Awards.

Closing this Thursday, the awards, run by Tourism Council WA and sponsored by 7News, recognise towns that deliver outstanding visitor experiences, and showcase the very best of regional hospitality, attractions and local character.

The community then decides which destinations are chosen as WA’s top, small and tiny tourism town award winners.

Recent years have seen strong representation from the South West, with Bridgetown named a Small Tourist Town Award finalist and placing second in the 2025 Awards, while Pemberton also reached second in the Tiny Tourism Category in 2023.

This comes after Pemberton’s gold award in 2017, as the Small Tourism Town Award Winner.

The awards rely on local nominations before towns can proceed to judging and public voting stages, with residents encouraged to nominate their town before Thursday.

Speaking to The Times in 2024, Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall encouraged the public to get behind their favourite holiday destination.

“The 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards gives us all the opportunity to reward towns for the way they care for their visitors, so it’s a great way to say thank you to the places we love to visit” he said.

“It could be a town you’ve recently discovered, but where you felt incredibly welcomed in your time there — or it could be the place you visit every year because you always have a fantastic experience.

“This is your chance to have your say.”