CRUISE Whitsundays has come home from the Australian Tourism Awards in Adelaide with a bronze award.

The local tourism business won the award in the Major Tour and Transport Operator category.

Chief executive officer Nick Hortle said he was very proud and thanked the company's 200-plus staff.

"We have an amazing team of people who are passionate about giving holidaymakers an experience to remember - and it's our people who really make us what we are," Mr Hortle said.

"We are humbled to have been recognised as one of Australia's best.

"Being a major player in the Australian tourism industry means we need to stay innovative and creative with our product offering, as well as have a strong focus on customer service, and these are the two things we have focused strongly on over the past year."

Cruise Whitsundays was honoured alongside 15 other award-winning Queensland tourism businesses and events, which included five gold, two silver and nine bronze winners.

The tourism awards were presented at a glittering gala ceremony held in Adelaide on April 10.

The day cruise operator was among a group of 27 Queensland finalists that won gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards in November and went on to compete in their respective categories at a national level.

Cruise Whitsundays was also a finalist in the Unique Accommodation category for its two-day Reefsleep tour where guests could sleep under the stars on the company's Reefworld pontoon located on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind paid tribute to Cruise Whitsundays for its national success.

"QTIC congratulates Cruise Whitsundays for the well-deserved accolade, which recognises the success of the business and its ability to bring visitors to the region to showcase one of Queensland's best natural assets - the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Gschwind said.

"Tourism is a critical industry in Queensland, resulting in a far-reaching spread of community wealth shared among other sectors of our economy. More than ever, tourism offers opportunities for jobs and wealth creation across the state.

"It's a coup for the entire state to have 16 Queensland businesses and events honoured on a national level.

"Queensland tourism operators have a long history of success at the Australian Tourism Awards and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council congratulates all finalists and winners."

Queensland was the second-highest award-winning state in Australia alongside second-equal Tasmania (16 awards), closely tailing first placed New South Wales (17 awards).