1 May is the final day for entries into the 2018 International Toilet Tourism Awards. Across the world, the awards seek to flush out tourist toilets that have the best location, best design, offer the quirkiest toilet experience, are the most accessible, or have been the best economic contributor to a locality – i.e. you spend more than a penny when you pull over for a tinkle.

Last year’s overall winner was a portable loo provider who provides country fairs in Queensland, Australia with toilets designed as rustic English cottages and red London phone boxes.

“This year we’re seeking new entrants who bring a breath of fresh air to the tourist toilet experience,” said Bronwyn White, co-founder of MyTravelResearch.com, which created the awards to show the close link between good public toilets and a successful tourism economy.

“We aim to show tourism destinations that creative, clean, quirky toilets go a long way to boosting a destination’s image and generating tourism dollars,” she said.

Since being hailed overall winners last year, public event organisers in Queensland have been bursting to use Toowoomba Portable Toilets, especially their Dunnies with a Difference range.

Judges will announce new winners by the end of May. The overall winner will receive a $2,000 prize to be donated to a worthy sanitation cause in their name. They will also receive an extensive choice of tourism industry insight reports by MyTravelResearch.com.

“The door is open for new winners to ascend the throne and make a splash,” said Carolyn Childs, co-creator of the awards and co-founder of MyTravelResearch.com, along with White.

All toilets used by tourists can be nominated, including those in tourism attractions, sight-seeing locations, national parks and reserves, theme parks, restaurants, pubs, and hotel outlets that are open to the public.

Nominations for the awards are free and can be made online here. A list of last year’s winners and background information is available here. Entries close by the end of 1 May.

THE ORGANISERS of the International Toilet Tourism Awards are Carolyn and Bronwyn of MyTravelResearch.com. They can be contacted here: – Carolyn Childs: (+61) 416 213 962; E: carolyn@mytravelresearch.com – Bronwyn White: (+61) 408 225 766; E: bronwyn@mytravelresearch.com – International: Ken Scott: E: kens@scottasia.net

RESOURCES

  • A full list of 2017 International Toilet Tourism Award winners is here including video of Carolyn Childs explaining toilet tourism to Today Tonight on TV, and a good example from Western Australia.
  • Images: a list of images of last year’s winners is here.
  • Bronwyn White on BBC TV World News on toilet tourism and sanitation issues here.
  • Statistics about sanitation issues and World Toilet Day here.
  • World Toilet Organization website
  • World Toilet Day website has many statistics on sanitation in emerging economies