Australia Zoo, the Sunshine Coast attraction operated by the family of the late Steve Irwin, has been inducted into the Queensland Tourism Hall of Fame.

The attraction achieved the honour after being named Major Tourist Attraction for 2009 at the Queensland Tourism Awards for the third year in a row.

The zoo was also a finalist in the Specialised Tourism Services category.

"Australia Zoo is one of Australia's, if not the world's, best loved tourist attractions and brings thousands of visitors through its gates each year," tourism minister Peter Lawlor said.

"In addition to being a first-class tourist attraction, Australia Zoo's excellent work in the areas of conservation and in raising environmental awareness means it is well-deserved to be inducted into Queensland's Tourism Hall of Fame."

Irwin's wife, Terri, said: "We are so proud to be recognised as a tourism icon in both Queensland and Australia, being honoured also at the Australian Tourism Awards earlier this year."

Australia Zoo director, Wes Mannion, added: "Steve was the best teacher and the best educator - we're all still following his legacy. Australia is the best country in the world, and people come to Australia to see our wildlife, not to eat it."

Following its success at the Queensland awards, the attraction will now go through to the Australian Tourism Awards, in which it won the Major Tourist Attraction for 2008.

The zoo also recently unveiled plans to open an Australia-themed zoo in Las Vegas, US. "We want to take the award-winning Australia Zoo experience to the world, with plans for an exciting new attraction in Las Vegas," said Terri.

Other winners at the Queensland awards included Daintree Discovery Centre (Tourist Attraction winner), Rubyvale Gem Gallery (Specialised Tourism Services winner), Capricorn Caves (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award winner), Paronella Park (Heritage & Cultural Tourism winner), Passions of Paradise (Adventure Tourism winner), Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism) and Noorla Heritage Resort (standard Accommodation Winner).

Rubyvale Gem Gallery, Passions of Paradise and Noorla Heritage Resort were also all inducted into the Hall of Fame for winning their category for the third time in a row.

Photograph: Australia Zoo wins the Major Tourist Attraction Award for the third year running. Courtesy of Queensland Tourism Awards.

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