Additional funding for regional tourism flood relief
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
The Victorian Government has allocated an additional $1.5 million of funding as part of the 2011-12 State Budget to promote regional tourism destinations affected by the floods, with funding provided for marketing activities and events to attract visitors back to the affected areas.
$1.5 million of funding will be used to deploy a strategic national advertising campaign to encourage visitation to flood affected regions. This will include destination marketing and branding to boost visitation to the Grampians and the Murray regions.
Tourism Victoria will also work with Regional Tourism Boards on event development opportunities for the affected regions and to support a Tourism Leadership Development Program and training opportunities.
In January, the Government announced a $1 million Tourism Flood Recovery Program to help businesses in areas affected by the floods that are heavily dependent on tourism.
This funding is part of the government's suite of initiatives to assist tourism related businesses recover from the floods, including;
- $1.5 million contribution to the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Business Relief Fund; Clean Up and Restoration grants;
- Funding of $500,000, with an additional $200,000 announced in this budget, has also been provided for a free mentoring service to provide businesses with access to specialist business advisers.
It is important to reinforce that regional communities are very much open for business, and now is the perfect time to plan weekends away, book accommodation and attend events.
