The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Tours program was announced on 26 November as the winner of the Specialised Tourism Services award at the 2009 Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards.

In addition to winning this main award, the AIS also received a commendation for the Education Tourism Program award.

With over 130 000 tourists visiting the AIS every year, AIS Tours was recognised for their contribution to educating visitors about the world of sport and enhancing their experience of the nation’s capital.

Steve Jones, Director of Commercial and Facilities at the Australian Sports Commission, congratulated the AIS Tours team on their success.

‘To win such an important tourism award recognises the value of the AIS Tours program and how it interacts with the community,’ Jones said.

‘An AIS tour is so much more than visiting our facilities. AIS tours are educational and offer the public — including school children — an interactive and important opportunity to learn about sport and get up close and personal with our elite athletes.’

AIS Tours are now in the running for the national 2009 QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards, which will be held in Hobart, Tasmania in February 2010.

AIS tours run daily at 10.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm, with additional times available for schools and other groups.