THE latest round of the Victorian Regional Travel Voucher Scheme will open today (Wednesday), with 40,000 travel vouchers for $200 helping boost tourism and support jobs across the state.
The first round of the voucher scheme saw 70,000 vouchers obtained by Victorians planning trips over the Christmas/New Year break.
Preliminary data from the first round of the program showed the most popular destinations were the Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, East Gippsland, the Surf Coast and High Country.
Most people claiming for vouchers have spent around $1,000 on accommodation, tours or attractions on their trip - that's on top of petrol, food, supplies and other purchases, underlying the significance of the tourism industry to local economies.
This round of 40,000 vouchers will be redeemable for travel between January 27 and April 1.
The vouchers will be available from 10 am today (Wednesday), with successful applicants able to redeem their voucher after they have travelled and spent their money - ensuring cash flows immediately to regional businesses.
A further round of 40,000 vouchers will become available on March 30 for travel between April 6 and May 31.
To be eligible you must be a Victorian resident aged 18 or over and spend a minimum $400 on accommodation, experiences or tours in regional Victoria during one of the specified periods.
Vouchers are limited to one per household and travellers are required to spend at least two nights in paid accommodation in regional Victoria to qualify for the scheme.
The Regional Travel Voucher Scheme is part of the $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package, which also provides almost $300 million to improve infrastructure in iconic locations including Gippsland, the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Promontory and the Grampians and invest in new tourism projects.
For more information on the voucher scheme and to apply, go to vic.gov.au/regional-travel-voucher-scheme.
