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Museum Enters Tourism Hall of Fame

Melbourne Museum has entered the prestigious Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame as it was recognised for the third year in a row as the state’s best tourist attraction at the RACV 2012 Victorian Tourism Awards last night.

Melbourne Museum received top honours at last night’s award ceremony with the Melbourne Airport Award for Major Tourist Attraction, its third consecutive win in this category, placing it in the Hall of Fame.

Melbourne Museum will now compete on a national level when it represents Victoria in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Hobart in February 2013.

Melbourne Museum celebrated a successful 2011-12 financial year, receiving 1,099,000 visitors – exceeding one million visitors for the third year in a row. Of that impressive number, around one quarter were interstate and international tourists, making a significant contribution to Victoria’s economy.

“This award marks a particularly strong year for Melbourne Museum, as we celebrated the end of our most successful touring exhibition – Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, welcomed The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia exhibition and delivered our new innovative SmartBar event,” said Dr Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria.

“We are delighted to end the financial year with this prestigious award and enter the Hall of Fame, particularly as we look forward to one of the most productive year’s in the Museum’s history, with the next major travelling exhibition Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul and the opening of the new permanent exhibition in Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre, First Peoples.”

Since opening at the Carlton Gardens precinct on 21 October 2000, Melbourne Museum has welcomed almost 10 million people through its doors.

“Melbourne Museum’s innovative permanent exhibitions and programming, combined with internationally acclaimed travelling exhibitions has made it the country’s most popular museum,” said Dr Greene.

Tutankhamun broke all attendance records attracting a staggering 796,277 visitors – making it the most popular temporary exhibition ever presented at an Australian museum or art gallery.

The Victorian Tourism Awards recognise and reward organisations that contribute excellence, innovation and commitment to the Victorian tourism industry.