The Victorian Government has announced a new $3 million grants program for local councils and tourism organisations aimed at developing innovative ways to encourage visitors to the State.
Speaking at the Destination Victoria 2023 conference, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos said the Visitor Servicing Program will open on 22 May.
Grants of up to $625,000 will be available to local councils, Regional Tourism Boards and other tourism organisations to develop innovative tools and ideas that allow visitors to easily book and plan visits, access information and connect with the state’s best experiences.
The Minister said projects could include improved booking and reservation platforms, online itinerary builders, AI information kiosks or local ambassador programs.
Grants of up to $50,000 are also available for local councils and Regional Tourism Boards to support strategy development and a coordinated approach to the delivery of new tools for each region.
“We’re backing the tourism industry to come up with innovative ways to encourage visitors to stay a little longer and spend a little more in Victoria,” said Minister Dimopoulos.
“Every visitor that we get to stay longer means more money in local businesses and that helps to support jobs right across our state.”
“By delivering exceptional visitor information, we can encourage travellers to become strong ambassadors for the state and attract more people to Victoria and encourage them to revisit.”
He said the program will also help to set up the tourism industry for success ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2026, helping visitors plan ahead and create the trip of a lifetime in regional Victoria.
As part of the program, the Victoria Tourism Industry Council will work with local councils and industry to deliver high quality information to visitors across the state.
The program was a commitment of the $633 million Visitor Economy Recovery Reform Plan, and is key to delivering on the new Experience Victoria 2033 strategic plan.
Applications will open 10am on 22 May. For more information on how to apply, visit business.vic.gov.au/visitor-servicing-fund.
