THE finalists for awards recognising tourism business excellence in the south west have been announced.

The South West Tourism Excellence Awards features businesses from Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

A total of 19 Dorset businesses and people have been shortlisted as finalists or commended for awards, across 14 categories.

Dorset Museum has been shortlisted as a finalist in both the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award and the Business Events Venue of the Year, while being commended in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.

In the accessible and inclusive category, the museum is joined by the National Trust – Corfe, Purbeck estate, which has been commended.

Alexander Lodge, in Southbourne, is among the finalists in the B&B and Guesthouse of the Year.

A clean sweep of Dorset businesses has been named on the list of finalists for the Business Events Venue of the Year, with Lighthouse Poole, The Tank Museum and Marsham Court Hotel joining Dorset Museum.

Bournemouth Echo: Tankfest is set to return to Dorset next weekend.

Three businesses in Dorset have been named on the list for the Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year, too.

Norden Farm Campsite, South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park and Wareham Forest Tourist Park have made the finalist list.

Holiday Inn Bournemouth is a finalist in the Large Hotel of the Year Award, with the Bournemouth Beach Lodges shortlisted for the Self Catering Accommodation of the Year Award.

The Arts by the Sea Festival 2022 and Tankfest 2023 are finalists in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year, with Rosanna Dean from the Tank Museum a finalist in the Unsung Hero Award.

Bournemouth Echo:

Swanage Information Centre is shortlisted in the Visitor Information Service of the Year.

In the New Tourist Business Award, English Cottage Vacation is a finalist, while Northe Fort is shortlisted as Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

The Acorn Inn is shortlisted in the Pub of the Year Award, and Upwey Wishing Well Tearooms is among the finalists in the Café/Tearoom of the Year Award.

Winners will be announced on March 14, where finalists will find out if they have won Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Many will then also be nominated to represent the region at the national VisitEngland awards later this year.

For more information on the awards, and to see the full list of finalists, visit the South West Tourism Excellence Awards website.