TOURISM businesses across Tenby could be picking up their very own Welsh 'Oscar' at this year's National Tourism Awards for Wales and are being urged by the Wales Tourist Board to 'be in it, to win it' by getting their applications in early. Application forms are now available for seven prestigious award categories which tourism businesses can enter, including best place to stay and top day out. Jonathan Jones, chief executive of the Wales Tourist Board, said: "Tenby and surrounding areas boast an exceptional standard of tourism operators, from small family run B&Bs to annual events that attract hundreds of local people and visitors to the area. There's definitely no shortage of businesses in this area to enter the awards! "It's about time tourism businesses gave themselves a pat on the back by putting themselves forward for these awards as it's their products that are giving Wales an excellent domestic and international reputation as a world class tourism destination." Application forms are available by calling Quadrant on 029 20694900 or can be completed on-line at http://www.walesonshow.com">www.walesonshow.com. The deadline for entries is June 30. A shortlist of three businesses in all award categories will be decided by the Wales Tourist Board and these will be invited to an interview by a panel of independent judges in September before a final decision is reached. The National Tourism Awards for Wales 2005 marks the climax of a three-day event, where more than 300 buyers from the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australasia meet to network at an event called Showcase Wales to be held in Cardiff's City Hall. Showcase Wales provides a shop window for the increasingly upmarket and specialised Welsh visitor sector. The awards evening will be built around a theme of 'Wales on Show' showcasing the stunning locations in Wales which have been used as sets for films ranging from 'Lawrence of Arabia' to the latest movie filmed in Wales, 'Half Light', starring Demi Moore, currently in production.
