FIFTY-one awards will be handed out to the best tourism businesses in Dorset.

The Dorset Tourism Awards will take place at the Tank Museum in Bovington on October 15 and attracted 76 entries across 17 categories.

Nick Fernyhough, of headline sponsor Saffery Champness, said: “The awards are helping to raise the profile of Dorset and also to raise the quality of the Dorset visitor experience.”

Award winners will automatically be considered for the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February, with the chance to go on to represent Dorset at the National VisitEngland Awards.

The awards finalists are as follows.

Small Hotel (sponsored by Clockwork Marketing): Best Western The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne; The Eastbury, Sherborne; Grove Hotel Bournemouth.

Small Visitor Attraction (sponsored by the Italian villa): Compton Acres, Poole; Poole Pottery; RNLI College, Poole; The Ark, Poole.

Holiday Park of the Year (sponsored by Hoseasons): Higher Moor Farm Camp Site, Weymouth; Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport; Hoburne Park, Christchurch.

Access and Inclusivity Award (sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy): BOD Bournemouth; Moors Valley country Park & Forest, Ashley Heath.

Cafe and Tearoom of the Year (sponsored by the Hotel and Catering Show): Aroma Coffee House and Kitchen, Lyme Regis; Symondsbury Kitchen, Symondsbury; Worth Matravers Tea and Supper Room.

Tourism Event of the Year (sponsored by Bournemouth University): Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth; Poole Harbour Boat Show; Sherborne Abbey Festival; Tankfest, Bovington.

Bed and Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year (sponsored by Goadsby): Bradle Farmhouse, Wareham; Launceston Farm, Blandford; The Balincourt, Bournemouth.

Venue and Business Tourism Award (sponsored by Saffery Champness): Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth; Italian Villa, Poole.

Tourist Information Service of the Year (sponsored by Resort Marketing): Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre; Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham; Swanage Tourist Information.

Tourism Activity, Sport and Experience of the Year (sponsored by Horsey Lightly Fynn): Go Ape Moors Valley – Tree Top Adventure, Ringwood; Lyme Ray Rib Charter, Bridport; Brownsea Island.

Sustainable Tourism Award (sponsored by Dorset Cereals): Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth; Fernhill Hotel, Bridport; South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster.

Large Hotel of the Year (sponsored by NatWest): Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Spa; RNLI College, Poole.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year (sponsored by Take One Media): Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Organford; Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster; Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath.

Tourism Pub of the Year (sponsored by A Head for PR): Acorn Inn, Evershot; Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton; White Post, Rimpton.

Self Catering Establishment of the Year (sponsored by Quality in Tourism): Caalm Leisure, Shaftesbury; Glampotel, Bere Regis; Lancombe Country Cottages and Lodges, Dorchester, Symondsbury Estate, Symondsbury.

Restauant of the Year: Arbor Restaurant at the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth; Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth; the Eastbury, Sherborne.

The Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service, the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism and the Winner of Winners title (sponsored by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership) will be announced on the night.