Picturesque tropical golden Nudey Beach with turquoise water on Fitzroy Island. It is a continental island southeast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia.Queensland’s popular tourism recognition program will evolve this year to keep pace with global visitor expectations and shine a spotlight on the state’s exceptional operators. In 2025, the highly sought after Best of Queensland Experience Program (BOQEP) stamp of recognition was awarded to a record 2,341 businesses – demonstrating the need for additional levels to better acknowledge the industry’s highest of achievers.
The 2026 BOQEP assessment will move away from make-or-break success and instead introduce levels of recognition. Gold and Silver stamps will showcase the top performing operators, while the score to secure the familiar Teal stamp remains the same – giving operators a clear pathway to strive towards in providing exceptional experiences that meet industry standards of best practice.
Minister for Tourism Andrew Powell said the new Silver and Gold levels raise the bar for this nation-leading program.
“Carrying the industry’s Best of Queensland Experience stamp has always been viewed as a significant achievement," Minister Powell said.
“As we hit the green and gold runway to 2032, it’s time for new incentives and benchmarks to really encourage operator growth and draw attention to those outstanding businesses at the very top of our industry.”
This year BOQEP will also introduce two new criteria that operators will be assessed against– Google Business Profile and Sustainability Certification. Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson said reviewing the BOQEP regularly is crucial to cementing our reputation as a world-class holiday destination.
“In today’s digital world a Google Business Profile is no longer an option, it’s a must-have,” Davidson said. “Sustainability also must be an area of focus for operators given that visitors are increasingly choosing businesses that genuinely care about our planet.
“The Best of Queensland Experience Program shows that if we provide operators with best practice guidance and clear parameters to strive towards, they don’t hesitate to take on the challenge. “The number of tourism businesses offering an online booking platform has more than doubled in the past five years from 1,671 to 3,438, proving the BOQEP sets benchmarks for success.”
The BOQEP rates businesses on an independent set of criteria that includes consistent delivery of an exceptional experience based on positive customer reviews, website with secure online booking, social media presence, RTO membership and Accreditation.
Being named a Gold, Silver or Teal BOQE means a business can use the appropriate coloured official stamp of recognition in marketing, allowing potential travellers to easily identify them.
The Best of Queensland Experience program was developed in partnership with the state's Regional Tourism Organisations (RTO), the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
