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40,000 $200 Regional Travel Rebates on $400 Travel Spend Available to Victorians

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From Friday at 10am, the Victorian government is offering 40,000 Victorians $200 'vouchers' to travel within Victoria between December 12 and January 22 as a stimulus for the tourism industry.

You have to spend over $400 on one of the following categories to get the $200 back:
- accommodation
- tours
- local attractions

Exclusions are 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).

It's really a reimbursement from the government though – travellers have to apply for the voucher, pay for the travel upfront and then receive a reimbursement from the government.

Still, $200 back on your trip is still $200 back!

Another 40,000 vouchers will be available on January 20, and may be redeemed for travel from January 27 to April 1, and the final batch of vouchers will be released on March 30 for use from April 6 to May 31.

Update: An extra 30,000 regional tourism vouchers will be made available to Victorians at 12PM today. Sold Out

Round 2: 40,000 vouchers will be released from 20 January 2021, 10.00am for travel between 27 January 2021 to 1 April 2021. Sold Out

Round 3: 30 March 2021, 10.00am, for travel between 6 April 2021 to 31 May 2021

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closed Comments

  • +1

    Can i book multiple places of accommodation (e.g 1 night each across 4 places for 4 nights) across Victoria and as long as its at least $400 i can get the rebate?

    • +5

      The FAQs just reference a spend of $400 and that 'invoices/receipts' must be provided.

      "Expenditure of more than $400 must be incurred on one or more of the following:
      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
      tours — 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
      entry fees — 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."

      I can't see any reason they'd limit this offer to a receipt for $400 from a single provider. Wouldn't support what they're trying to do.

      • +2

        Sweet, yeah it wouldn't make sense to spend 400 from a single provider as it would it wouldn't encourage you to spread your $400+ across multiple business that need the income.

          • @jv: You shouldn't give people these nasty ideas .

          • @jv: May be jv is being sarcastic and hope the administrator have thought about the process and ensure people have less chance to rort the system.

        • +41

          There's a time and place to rort the system - this isn't one of them

          • @JobbaWobba: This is about getting business to tourist places. It still gets the business there, dodgy or not if the reseller.

            A more worrying rort would be paying, getting reimbursed, then cancelling. That is just helping no one but the rorter.

          • @JobbaWobba:

            There's a time and place to rort the system

            Selling something you've paid for is not rorting…

        • +13

          lol out of all the shieeet that's happened in VIC this year … did ever consider for maybe 2 seconds that stealing from the businesses that have been most negatively impacted …. might not be cool??

          10 seconds of thinking music

      • +1

        Apply Now button not showing

    • +12

      Sounds like you need to sell your car

    • +9

      somewhat true, but not relevant to this offer

    • +4

      There will always be a Karen to everything.

    • +11

      Your car rego is mainly TAC, and accidents aren't really down that much. The rest of it is for maintaince and building roads, which they are doing a lot of at the moment.

      So it's not really surprising.

    • You have less cost of maintenance on your car, better resale with less km/s on the clock, you have spent less on petrol, bank that as a benefit on the other side. Road maintenance is still ongoing. Also think of the benefit for the environment, maybe they can spend the extra from rego on some green initiatives to offset future road use.

      Insurance is not the government, you need to change providers if you don't think you are getting a good deal or discuss with your insurance.

      It's really your choice how you see it, maybe not as extreme as my opinion above but maybe somewhere in between at least?

    • Agree 10000%

  • +1

    Will this be eligible for accommodation booked through airbnb?

    • +2

      Don't see why not.

    • What is the chance of entrepreneurial people in reginal VIC offering a tent on some deserted land for $5-10/night on airbnb? The requirement is simply having paid for min 2 nights accommodations, whether you actually show up or not.

      • +4

        Even if you booked something like that and not show up, you still need to spend $400 min on tours / attractions / experiences to get the $200 back.

        • +2

          Yes, but you can put the money towards some interesting activities (such as skydiving as some mentioned below) rather than spending 2 nights out there.

      • I already have a booking over XMAS for 3 nights camping near wilson's prom on someone's farm. It through an app called Hipcamp (Youcamp sold themselves to Hipcamp) and it costs about $25 a night.

        If I made the booking a few weeks ago, does that still count towards the $400?

      • I imagine the businesses need to be registered.

    • Hi mate, 100% yes. I applied for one of the travel vouchers in the last batch and the only receipt I provided was the AirBnB receipt which totaled over the $400 amount.

      The $200 voucher has already hit the bank account, so it definitely is eligible.

      • -1

        seems pretty easy to rort. Pre buy, then cancel. And send the screen shot. Hard to check all 40k.

  • +1

    Already paid more than $400 for AirBnb travel costs this weekend, wonder if I'll be able to claim it back…

    • +10

      it just says "you can undertake your trip from 12 December 2020 to 22 January 2021" - not when the trip needs to have been paid for. Given travel is often paid ahead of time I can't imagine why you'd be knocked back.

      • Yeah, having read a little over it now it seems like it should be fine, the invoices indicate the date of stay, so… bonus!

      • +5

        FAQ says the below:

        Can I use the voucher for an existing booking?
        Yes.

        This reads to me as being fine to claim these expenses so long as the trip takes place in the travel period. We're in the same boat.

        • Good spotting, thanks!

    • travel costs are ineligible..so Petrol and other car expenses aren't included in the $400.
      from reading the link i think accommodation must be minimum 2 nights to be eligible, and its for Regional travel only.

      If you fit all that, i reckon theres no reason why they should deny you

      • By "AirBnb travel costs" I mean the cost of staying, yeah, and it's two nights so all good.

        • +2

          oh lol all good. Enjoy your holiday with a bit more $$$ to spend! haha don't spend it all on OzB….today

          • @ExtraSalt: Hahaha, thanks - I'll try to restrain myself :D

      • +2

        I mean it's a stimulus for the tourism industry, not a stimulus for ones fuel tank. This is not directed at you, just baffling that some people will whinge about something positive!

        • yeah i get what you are saying it's kinda ridiculous because as you said its a stimulus to really help those who rely on holiday periods who are now in the red for the year.

          My comment was just a clarification because @ely's comment mentioned

          "AirBnB travel costs"

  • +4

    Dam booked for the 11th of Dec

    • +1

      Go book another holiday then!

    • +1

      Booking a dam is huge!

    • +58

      Yeh $8million that will increase tourism and bring money into regional Victoria has been hurt severely by the fires and then the virus lockdown, what a waste eh?

      I dunno, I have more issues with paying $30million for land worth $3million, the $10million gifted to foxtel, the $444 million given to a foundation with 6 full time employees, the $51billion spent on the garbage NBN etc etc.

      Only $8million to increase tourism and help victorians take a much needed holiday? Yeh that's not even a drop in the barrel and has an actual positive effect.

        • I doubt all of regional Victoria is booked out, and I'm not even going to check.

          • +1

            @TEER3X:

            I doubt all of regional Victoria is booked out

            Almost impossible to find accomodation in any regional holiday spot right now…

            and I'm not even going to check.

            I've already checked so you don't have to…

            • +7

              @jv: Maybe you're looking in the wrong places.

              • -5

                @JohnHowardsEyebrows: Maybe, but I've been checking the places most people would use…

                • +26

                  @jv: Most Victorians voted for Labor last election; most Australians voted for marriage equality; most people don't spend their life on OzB posting 75K useless comments… you're not exactly an authority on what most people want to do. #jvdoesn'tspeakforme

                    • +17

                      @jv: Oh man, posting a link to your Popular Comment badges is perhaps the saddest 'bUt L00k @ mY IntErweBz PoiNtz' flex I've ever seen; thanks for the laugh. Nevermind also that you're helping prove my point - nice 0.004% (approximate) strike rate there; and don't worry about all the negatively voted comments.

                      Sounds to me like you need a holiday - maybe you should take advantage of this deal and explore regional Victoria :)

                      • -6

                        @kjg:

                        posting a link

                        direct response to your ranting unsubstantiated claim…

                        • +10

                          @jv: 31 comments on this post alone vs my single 3 line comment… and I'm the one ranting? You are talking absolute horseshit; everyone can see your lies - you're the Trump of OzB and I am embarrassed for you. Fully substantiated too - sorry if you can't handle facts.

                      • -4

                        @kjg:

                        Sounds to me like you need a holiday

                        I'm on holiday now.

                    • +1

                      @jv:

                      and now regret it… The > 800 that died due to Labor's negligent COVID decisions certainly did

                      The ones in aged care? That the Federal Government took responsibility for? Those ones?

                      • -3

                        @ThithLord:

                        The ones in aged care?

                        That wouldn't have died if Dan didn't stuff up… It didn't happen in other states…

                        • +1

                          @jv: lol good little Murdoch lackey. Good boy. Regurgitate what you've been told to regurgitate.

                          The Federal Government admitted responsibility from the Royal Commission, you turkey. Admitted responsibility. Let those words sink in.

                          • -2

                            @ThithLord:

                            The Federal Government admitted responsibility

                            They weren't the ones that let the virus loose on all Victorians. That was Dan

                            As mentioned didn't happen in other states aged care…

                            • @jv: I guess they accepted responsibility for shizts and giggles, huh? LNP are known for admitting responsibility for their eff ups - they never blame Labor.

                              • -1

                                @ThithLord: It's just a fact…

                                Dan's incompetence let the virus escape and killed almost 1,000 people… Then, rather than take responsibility for what he has done, he throws his colleagues under a bus to save his own job…

                                Lots of similarities to what Trump has done in the USA.

                                • +1

                                  @jv: Baha yeah using a security firm recommended by the Fed Government is totally on Dan, mate. Totes McGoats

                                  • -1

                                    @ThithLord:

                                    is totally on Dan

                                    using a non-approved security firm, to appease your union mates is…

                  • +8

                    @kjg: Wow 75,000 comments and spewing right wing conservative trash. He then shows off his badges as if they mean something in the real world.

                    What a life. I bet that's what his hopes and dreams were as a child. Hope his parents are proud.

          • +2

            @TEER3X: It's not. I've been looking and it is busier than normal years, especially areas that are closer to the city but classified as regional. But there's places further out also available.

            You'll notice words like "pretty much" or "almost" being used when people want to protect themselves from partisan hyperbole .

            I booked a place a few days ago in Bendigo for a big group of multiple families. Going to benefit from this rebate and am very happy about it.

        • +2

          Yeah, I'll take advantage of this, but it's not actually promoting tourism - I'm already going, just going to claim this on expenses that were already locked in.

          And you're totally right - the regions are not suffering for tourism. A voucher scheme to get people into the CBD is probably more in need, tbh (although that is also picking up considerably lately).

          • +3

            @ely:

            Yeah, I'll take advantage of this, but it's not actually promoting tourism - I'm already going, just going to claim this on expenses that were already locked in.

            As will most people that have planned a trip already…

            It's just the government buying votes by giving away cash and putting the state into more debt, it will make stuff all difference as a stimulus…

            • +1

              @jv: Who needs a triple A, ay @jv

              I'm sure they'll sort something out, like more cuts to the health department (not like their IT systems weren't worse than the rest of the countries already) or hospitals (where there wasn't enough PPE)

              • +1

                @Koffee: A local hospital near me in vic got $8m cut from them in the last budget, so this is where it has gone…

            • +7

              @jv: Did Sky News tell you this? Or another one of Murdochs rags?

              • -1

                @ScruffTheJanitor:

                Did Sky News tell you this?

                I don't watch it. I don't really care what they say, but it seems you do.

                How often do you watch it and why?

            • +1

              @jv: So what if people already planned a trip? It's $200 that gets funneled back into the economy.

              Is debt actually so bad? Interest rates are at an all time low, now is the best time to borrow.

              You seem to have some antiquated views on economics.

              • +1

                @Sad Dino:

                So what if people already planned a trip? It's $200 that gets funneled back into the economy.

                It's also $200 that gets taken out of the economy… It doesn't appear by magic

                • @jv: Sorry jv, I'm not sure you know what an economy is.

              • -1

                @Sad Dino:

                Is debt actually so bad?

                It can be either good or bad.

                This is an example of bad debt…

            • @jv: It'll make a huge difference- it's a multiplier.

              On a 3-4 day weekend away we usually budget about 2000 bucks- usually we fly somewhere and we have nothing booked until feb. With this bonus I'll book a weekend away and take the rebate and still spend the 2k.

              • @tororm:

                It'll make a huge difference- it's a multiplier.

                Not if people were going to spend the money in regional Vic anyway and they choose to just pocket the additional $200, which will be the case for most people…

                • @jv: You're being intentionally obtuse, surely.
                  I'm going to several places *because of this stimulus. I was on the fence.
                  But for those *already going, of course they'll spend more if they know they're getting an extra $200 from Dan.
                  These aren't bills under the mattress people, they're going on holidays = they're spending for experiences!
                  Get a grip, @jv

          • @ely: Mine will offset yours though, I wasn't planning on going anywhere until now.

            • @TEER3X: That doesn't offset it, but it does add to it.

              I don't doubt that this is stimulating spending, and I don't share JV's objection to the debt or to stimulus in general, but I do doubt that it's stimulating spending in an area that's actually short of spending right now.

            • -2

              @TEER3X:

              I wasn't planning on going anywhere until now.

              Too late, everywhere is booked out…

        • +11

          I'll be travelling because of this.

          Save your conservative right wing trash for the News Corp websites.

          • -1

            @arcticmonkey:

            I'll be travelling because of this.

            Good luck trying to find a place to stay that isn't going to rort you…

        • +4

          Not sure if you noticed, but this was announced a while ago. And peoples bookings decisions would have been influenced by this.

          Theres plenty of things that are actually causing unnecessary debt. Maybe go sook about them rather than something that's positive for once?

          • @ScruffTheJanitor: Debt's fine when appropriate - and now is appropriate, so no issues with that.

            Targeting stimulus at an area that's already red hot is probably not the most productive use of that debt though.

      • +4

        I agree with both you and jv. My problem with the scheme is it’s execution. I can see it being rorted heaps and not achieving it’s intention. Why not just give that money straight to the regional business. My mother in law runs an Airbnb in Echuca, I could stay there and pay her and get the incentive and get it back. But we went and stayed there last week. That’s enough mother in law for a bit. Plus I’m not a cheat. Anyway she is fully booked into the new year and demand has been crazy since the restrictions were lifted. And she says it’s like that all over town, so really this isn’t even needed. Don’t know about Mallacoota though.

        • +4

          Bear in mind that the intention is to get the Vic economy going, so it is just fair to subsidise to entice more spending.

          If the government wants to help business directly, then they should just extend job keeper or something.

        • +3

          Well its designed entice spending. A $200 voucher could get a family to go on a weekend away and spend $1k in regional vic.

        • That's really interesting to hear the recovery is strong in regional Victoria. I guess everyone really wants to take a trip now that restrictions have eased!

          Maybe the government need to do the same for hotels and serviced apartments in the city? Business travel and foreign students has definitely not come back the same as domestic leisure travel, and definitely read some stories of retirees with investment properties struggling.

    • +18

      Garbage comment. Credit rating isn't affected by one off expenditure of $8m.

      • -5

        Credit rating isn't affected by one off expenditure of $8m.

        It's affected by debt which is the cumulation of all the spending…

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