Regional Travel Voucher Scheme

This program aims to provide eligible Victorians an incentive to explore the State. It seeks to encourage Victorians to travel across the state, as the tourism industry recovers from the impacts of COVID-19 and bushfires.

There are approximately 120,000 vouchers available (40,000 vouchers on each round). Each voucher gives the recipient the right to claim a reimbursement of $200 if they have spent at least $400 on accommodation, a tourism attraction or tour in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges or the Mornington Peninsula.

A total funding pool of $28 million is available.

The vouchers will be released in three rounds. Travel must be undertaken within the eligible travel period for each round. The key dates are:
- Round 1A: Registrations opened 11 December 2020 (for travel period between 12 December to 22 January 2021). Claiming period is between 4 January and 5 February 2021.
- Round 1B: Registrations opened 11 December 2020 (for travel period between 12 December to 22 January 2021). Claiming period is between 4 January and 5 February 2021.
- Round 2: Registrations opened 20 January 2021 (for travel period between 27 January to 1 April 2021). Claiming period is between 11 March and 15 April 2021.
- Round 3: Registrations open 30 March 2021 (for travel period between 6 April to 31 May 2021). Claiming period is between 10 May and 14 June 2021 2021.

The program works on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis and each round will close once all places have been filled for that particular round. The second round allocation of regional travel vouchers has now been exhausted.

Eligible applicants include Victorian residents over the age of 18 and must meet the following criteria:
- Recipients must stay a minimum of two nights in regional Victoria in paid accommodation.
- Travel must be undertaken within the 48 regional and rural Local Government Areas, as well as Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley or Victorian alpine ski resorts.
- Expenditure of more than $400 must be incurred on one or more of the following:
a) Paid accommodation - which means serviced apartments, backpacker and hostels, bed and breakfasts, cabins or caravans in holiday parks, caravan and camping site fees, cottages, farm stays, private holiday rentals, houseboats, motels, hotels, resorts, retreats and lodges.
b) Paid tours and experiences - which means tour operators that offer regularly organised tours with a leisure-tourism focus, organised by experienced guides. These may include a personal host and/or commentary. For example, a boat cruise, guided walk, bus tour, air tour, agri-tourism, food and wine tour, sport tour, outdoor and adventure tour.
c) Entry fees for regional attractions - which means places/areas of interest that offer a distinct visitor experience to the leisure tourist such as museums, water parks, local attractions, theme parks, etc.

Each household is limited to one voucher each.

Applicants who live in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges or the Mornington Peninsula, can still apply for a voucher, subject to the eligibility criteria outlined in the Guidelines.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible municipalities.

Eligible costs are those that help cover the accommodation, tourism attractions or tours undertaken in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula.

The vouchers can be spent in the 11 regional tourism regions in Victoria which comprises the 48 Regional and Rural Council areas, plus the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Frankston City Council, Yarra Ranges Shire, Nillumbik Shire Council, Cardinia Shire Council, Victoria’s six Alpine Resorts, French Island, Lady Julia Percy Island and Gabo Island.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible municipalities.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Gaming
- Alcohol (except if alcohol is included in wine/brewery/distillery tasting type tour but excludes any alcohol purchased and consumed outside of the experience)
- Fuel
- Food and drinks (except where packaged with an Eligible Expense such as a winery tour)
- Groceries
- Personal items such as clothing and accessories
- Transport costs (rental vehicles, train and bus tickets)