Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan
The Victorian Government will help revitalise and grow Victorian tourism after the impacts of bushfires and the global pandemic, with a roadmap outlined in the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan.
The Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan is underpinned by an investment of $633 million and serves as a whole-of-state strategy, with a goal of achieving $35 billion in annual visitor expenditure supporting 300,000 jobs by June 2024.
Informed by the findings of the Regional Tourism Review, the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan will strengthen the state’s nation-leading tourism offering through the development of new experiences, products and infrastructure.
The plan outlines strategies to attract more international, interstate and intrastate visitors by making the most of marketing expenditure, transforming Regional Tourism Boards and ensuring state-wide collaboration.
The Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan can be viewed in the document below:
Regional Tourism Review
In March 2019, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and the Minister for Regional Development commissioned the Regional Tourism Review to ensure our regions get the support and opportunities they need to grow tourism across regional Victoria.
The findings and recommendations of the Regional Tourism Review were provided to the commissioning Ministers in December 2019. The findings were reviewed to ensure they remained current following the 2019-20 summer bushfires and then later incorporated in the development of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the visitor economy across the State.
The complete findings of the Regional Tourism Review are detailed in the document below:
- Regional Tourism Review Regional Tourism Review Consultation Findings (PDF 430.06 KB)
- Regional Tourism Review - accessible version Regional Tourism Review Consultation Findings (DOCX 3675.29 KB)
Greater Melbourne Tourism Recovery Forum - Workshop Report
The Report outlines a future vision that will help guide the recovery of local tourism businesses and communities across greater Melbourne. Following extensive consultation through industry workshops and interviews, the report was developed to reflect the experiences of the greater Melbourne tourism industry.
The Report identifies opportunities and contains recommendations that government and industry can work together to implement to support a thriving greater Melbourne.
Click below to view the full report.
- Greater Melbourne Tourism Recovery Forum Workshop Report Greater_Melbourne_Tourism_Recovery_Forum_Workshop_Report.pdf (PDF 206.65 KB)
- Greater Melbourne Tourism Recovery Forum Workshop Report - accessible version Greater_Melbourne_Tourism_Recovery_Forum_Workshop_Report_accessible_version.docx (DOCX 58.01 KB)
Enabling Tourism Fund
The Enabling Tourism Fund supports regional and rural Victorian tourism projects to reach investment-ready status.
Thirty-three new tourism projects have received more than $7.4 million to carry out activities that will advance planning for new attractions around the state. Activities include feasibility studies, master planning and business case development.
The projects will strengthen Victoria’s tourism offering and boost private investment by enticing more visitors to the region, employing more people and accelerating the recovery of the tourism sector.
The Enabling Tourism Fund is helping revitalise and grow Victoria’s tourism industry and is a key part of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan.
Regional Tourism Investment Fund
Applications for the Regional Tourism Investment Fund are now closed.
The Fund will support new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects that will increase visitation, drive private investment, and deliver more jobs.
This investment will help revitalise and grow Victoria’s visitor economy and is a key part of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan. The fund provides grants up to $10 million per project, with a minimum funding amount of $150,000 per project, focussing on four growth sectors identified in the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan – nature, epicurean, arts and culture, and First Peoples’ led experiences.
Visit the Business Victoria website for more information.
Flagship tourism projects
Ten projects in regional Victoria have been identified as iconic projects, receiving dedicated funding to improve visitor experiences at these locations via the Victorian Budget 2020-21.
The projects are:
- Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation
- Great Ocean Road Revitalisation
- Mallee Silo Art Trail
- Maximising investment in the Grampians Peaks Trail
- Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing: Stage 1
- Murray River Adventure Trail
- Gippsland Tourism Recovery Package
- Brambuk Cultural Centre Revitalisation
- Ballarat Centre for Photography
- Prosecco Road – Early Works.
Further information will be provided here soon.
Regional Tourism Investment Fund - Stimulus Round
Many of the funds and initiatives outlined in the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan are already in the early stages of delivery and generating immediate economic benefits.
The $46 million Regional Tourism Investment Fund - Stimulus Round focuses on 30 key local projects that will create immediate jobs in construction and drive visitation and ongoing employment.
A complete list of projects supported by the Fund’s stimulus round is detailed in the document below:
Page last updated: 23 February 2023