The targeted package is part of a $633 million investment into the local tourism industry.
This morning, the Victorian government unveiled its four-year plan to rebuild the local tourism industry, totalling $633 million in funding. Titled Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan, the roadmap will see ten regional tourist destinations receive a collective investment of $149 million.
What you need to know
- Victoria’s tourism industry suffered an estimated $19.5 billion net loss in 2020 due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the bushfires
- The government’s four-year plan aims to achieve $35 billion in annual visitor expenditure, supporting 300,000 jobs, by June 2024
- The plan will see $152 million injected into the state’s Major Events Fund
Keep up with the latest travel news and tips here.
The back-to-back blows of the bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 60 per cent decline in tourism compared to the previous 12 months, with the industry suffering an estimated $19.5 billion net loss in 2020.
On the back of its recent travel voucher scheme, the Victorian government has devised a comprehensive plan to reinvigorate tourism within the state, selecting ten key travel destinations to receive funding in order to improve visitor experiences and encourage tourism.
The projects selected include Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation, Great Ocean Road Revitalisation, Mallee Silo Art Trail, Maximising investment in the Grampians Peaks Trail, Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing (stage one), Murray River Adventure Trail, Gippsland Tourism Recovery Package, Brambuk Cultural Centre Revitalisation, Ballarat Centre for Photography, and Prosecco Road (early works).
Further information regarding what these projects will entail will soon be revealed.
The plan also includes a $152 million injection into the state’s Major Events Fund to secure more crowd-pulling attractions and $46 million for 30 “shovel-ready” regional infrastructure projects.
“Victorian tourism supports thousands of workers – that’s why we have developed a strategy to ensure the sector can continue to rebound strongly from the serious buffeting it took last year,” said Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula.
“New and improved attractions will bring more visitors, and clear planning and strong promotion will ensure a swift recovery of the domestic market and build resilience for the future,” he said.
Find out more here.
