The Eden Visitor Information Centre (VIC), the Seahorse Inn and Cat Balou cruises have muscled their way to the top, all finalists up for prestigious accolades in their elective categories.

This year the awards have expanded to include the Wollongong and Illawarra regions down to the Victorian border, making competition even tougher, said Eden VIC's co-ordinator Alison Fantham.

"With Wollongong a finalist too, we are up against the biggest centres around but we are hoping our hard work and our drive to put Eden on the map will pay off," she said.

"I think our new initiatives have helped us get this far in the award's process, such as our business of the month incentive, our volunteer of the month and our Get Connected push with Tourism NSW.

"It's a reflection of the dedication of our staff and volunteers, the support of the Eden Chamber of Commerce and doing what we do as best we can - and that's promoting Eden and the region."

Mrs Fantham will join Ros and Gordon Butt of Cat Balou Cruises and Bruce and Tina Lyon of the Seahorse Inn at the South Coast Tourism Awards showdown on August 27 in Nowra.

Mrs Butt said she hoped her company would do well at the awards this year in the Tour and Transport Operators category, which they won in 2007.

They also took out the Eco/Adventure Tourism section last year.

"We are pretty excited to get this far considering the increased competition," she said.

"It would be a great accolade if we won again, especially celebrating our 21st birthday this year as well - two reasons to celebrate."

Riding off the back of past success, Seahorse Inn manager Cheryl Gordon said she hoped her luxury accommodation complex would come home in the All-star Accommodation category - a section they won in 2007.

The resort also made it to the State Tourism Wards finals and was given a distinction, as well as dominating in the Illawarra and South Coast Regional Local Business Awards in the Outstanding Tourism Accommodation section.

"Hopefully we will do well again, but even to get this far just shows how dedicated our staff are," Ms Gordon said.

"People who are coming to our inn are coming back which really does reflect our high standards."

Ms Gordon said that the importance of winning awards spread further than the enterprise taking home the accolade.

"It's a flow on effect - everywhere we go we promote Eden and the area - it's a win, win situation for everyone," she said.