Another 80,000 travel vouchers up for grabs in regional Victoria | What to know
From Victoria's country towns to ski resorts, here's where you can spend the latest round of vouchers.
Note: This post was originally published on 10 December 2020 and has been updated with new voucher details on 8 June 2021.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria hasn't had it easy.
After another circuit-breaker lockdown ended for regional Victoria just last week, the Victorian government announced another round of regional travel vouchers.
This fourth round of the scheme will see another 80,000 vouchers up for grabs, each valued at $200. These are eligible for use on accommodation, tours, experiences and regional attractions.
Acting Premier James Merlino said, "The effort to combat this outbreak makes a call on all of us – and we know that means a significant pause in the steady recovery being experienced in our tourism sector, especially across regional Victoria."
Additionally, the travel period for round three of the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme has been extended by three weeks so that people whose plans have been affected by current restrictions can still access the program.
How does it work?
A release date for this round of vouchers and the travel period hasn't been announced yet, but you can apply via Business Victoria when they become available.
The $200 vouchers only apply on bookings that are a minimum of $400 and are limited to one per household. Eligible regions include Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and alpine ski resorts including Mt Hotham and Mt Buller.
You can spend your voucher on accommodation, entry fees to regional attractions, tours and experiences. Keep in mind that you need to spend at least two nights for stays.
Victorians have previously snatched up 120,000 travel vouchers in the first 3 rounds of the Regional Travel Voucher scheme.
We've broken down how it's worked for you here:
| When do registrations open? | Travel period | Claim period and cut-off date | |
| Round 1 | 10am 11 December 2020 (Allocation exhausted) | 12 December 2020 - 22 January 2021 | 4 January 2021 - 5 February 2021 |
| Round 2 | 10am 20 January 2021 (Allocation exhausted) | 27 January 2021 - 1 April 2021 | 11 March 2021 - 15 April 2021 |
| Round 3 | 10am 30 March 2021 | 6 April 2021 - 31 May 2021 | 10 May 2021 - 14 June 2021 (Extended until 5 July 2021) |
| Round 4 | Come back soon | To be announced | To be announced |
Any vouchers that weren't used in the previous three rounds have been added to the fourth round.
Those of you who have already booked your trips can also claim back on the incentive. Most importantly, be sure to keep your receipts so you're able to claim when the time comes.
How can I make the most of this opportunity?
You have a plethora of options when it comes to how you can make the most of your voucher. These are just some activities that could make up a portion of your minimum spend:
- Snowshoe Walk with Fondue, Mulled Wine and Dinner in Hotham: $149 per person
- Mt Buller Full Day Snow Trip: $135 per person
- Overnight Yarra Valley Getaway: $310 for two
- Lake Mountain Day Tour: $145 per person
- 2 Night Luxury Hotham Getaway: $692 for two people
The scheme follows the lead of Tasmania, New South Wales, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia who also introduced travel vouchers over the past year.
This is just one project that makes up the Victorian Tourism Recovery Package. Other investments are seeing improvements to the Great Ocean Road, Grampians National Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park.
The Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme was also introduced, offering 40,000 new vouchers to be used in greater Melbourne. They've since sold out.
Not sure where to head? Look no further than the best places to visit in Victoria. Like the sound of skiing? Check out our ski-resorts guide, including Victorian ski locations.
This post was originally published on 19 November 2020 and has been updated with voucher details on 8 June 2021.
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