- Published:
- Friday 12 March 2021
Victorians rushed to secure 40,000 vouchers released through the Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme this morning, with the allocation exhausted in just four minutes.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said the $200 vouchers would provide a major boost for tourism and hospitality businesses and workers across greater Melbourne, following the ongoing success of the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme.
The Melbourne travel vouchers website welcomed a peak audience of 187,000 people, with well-prepared applicants completing the first of the registration forms in seconds before the final voucher was assigned at 10:04am.
Successful applicants will be able to claim for travel in 26 local government areas across Melbourne between 19 March and 16 May, having spent $400 or more on accommodation, attractions or experiences. Travellers must spend at least two nights in paid accommodation in order to make a successful claim.
The Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme will build on the momentum created by the first two rounds of its regional counterpart, with 150,000 vouchers in total now taken up by Victorians.
Some 52,000 claimants in the first round of the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme spent an estimated $85 million across the state in December and January, bolstering business and jobs as Victoria continues it steady recovery from the global pandemic.
The second round of the scheme is in progress, with voucher holders able to claim for travel taken until 1 April.
A further 50,000 travel vouchers for regional Victoria will be made available on Tuesday, 30 March – for travel between 6 April and 31 May – bringing to 200,000 the number of vouchers provided by the Andrews Labor Government as part of the $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package.
More information on the Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme can be found at vic.gov.au/melbourne-travel-voucher-scheme.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula
“Victorians have shown how keen they are to experience the best of Melbourne, and tourism and hospitality businesses will be big winners.”
“The vouchers will provide another shot in the arm as the city continues its steady recovery.”