READERS have just a few days left to get their nominations in to celebrate the very best in the Worcestershire tourism business.

There have already been hundreds of entries in all four categories for the first Worcestershire Welcome Awards, organised by tourism body Destination Worcestershire, with voting going down to the wire.

People have until Monday, April 20, to put forward people and organisations representing the county’s traditional values of hospitality, good food and good times to visitors both from and outside Worcestershire.

To vote, log on to visitworcestershire.org or return the form from tomorrow's Worcester News.

Following the vote the top accolade of Warmest Worcestershire Welcome will be given to the winner of one of these four main award categories:

  • Best Worcestershire Breakfast – the best breakfast from regional produce.
  • Worcestershire Awareness – aimed at establishments genuinely interested in promoting the region, whether it be with restaurant recommendations or seasonal celebrations such as the Asparagus Run.
  • Worcestershire Nights – awarding the establishment which gives the quintessential welcoming ambience, value for money and a good night’s sleep.
  • Eat & Drink Worcestershire – use of seasonal and regional produce. This extends to all staff and not just proprietors including farm shops and retail outlets.

The awards are designed to tap into the county’s potential as a natural tourism centre with its beautiful rolling countryside, central location and existing visitor attractions like the Severn Valley Railway and the Malvern Hills.

Ivan Knezovich is chairman of Destination Worcestershire, the body set up to market the county.

He believes Worcestershire is perfectly placed to sell itself nationally and internationally.

“In the past we’ve perhaps been overshadowed by our neighbours such as Stratford and Birmingham. However we now have the opportunity to combine the efforts of the public and private sectors to market the county,” he said.

“The natural beauty of Worcestershire lies in its location and for many tourists the undiscovered delights of the Vale of Evesham, the Teme Valley and the Wyre Forest.

“The county’s easily accessible from the surrounding regions and has excellent motorway and rail access. The tourism offerings are abundant, affordable and of a high standard.”

Mr Knezovich believes the time is right for an advocate like Destination Worcester-shire to be a powerful voice for tourism “which needs to be shouting from the rooftops if we are to compete with our neighbours”.

With money tight for many would-be visitors, he also believes the county’s tourism industry must offer value for money if it is to grow in the next 12 months.

“We need to ensure that as an industry we are flexible enough to adapt to the current fashions of a discerning market,” he said.

“However I am confident tourism will continue to attract new investment and offer even more exciting opportunities for visitors in the years to come.”