Industry support

Grants

Various grants and programs are available to support tourism businesses and infrastructure development to ensure our tourism offering continues to be the very best.

Visit the Business Victoria website to explore funding opportunities and find the right support for your business.

Past funding programs

We've provided a range of grants to support businesses and projects in the tourism industry. Learn more about some of our most recent investments in infrastructure projects on Buisness Victoria:

• Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024
• Enabling Tourism Fund 2024

Tourism crisis support

Find out how to be prepared to respond and recover more quickly from a crisis .

Industry support and resources

Business mentoring and support

Business Victoria provides practical advice, guidance, and support through various programs designed to help small business owners succeed.

To access tailored support, reach out to your local Visitor Economy Partnership or Regional Tourism Board.  They can connect you with resources and opportunities to strengthen and grow your business.

Attracting and retaining the right staff

There are several programs and services in Victoria to help you find the right staff for your business:

• Business Victoria offers guidance on legal requirements for employers and tips on building a strong workforce.
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations provides support for hiring staff from diverse backgrounds. You may also be eligible for financial support in hiring new staff.
• Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) hosts the Choose Tourism Careers Expo, showcasing tourism career opportunities.
• The Young Tourism Network (YTN) hosts networking events and training for young tourism professionals.

Servicing your visitors

Visitor servicing is all about providing visitors with up-to-date, reliable, and helpful information that can shape their travel plans, spending choices, and overall experience.

The Visitor Servicing Framework presents the Victorian Government’s position on the importance of visitor servicing and outlines a series of guiding principles to help the industry provide clear and useful information for visitors.

Learn more by downloading this free resource:

• Visitor Servicing Framework Victoria's Visitor Servicing Framework (PDF 330.42 KB)
• Visitor Servicing Framework Victoria's Visitor Servicing Framework (DOCX 504.78 KB)

Our Visitor Servicing Guide, to be released in 2025, will offer practical guidance for local government and the tourism industry on modern visitor servicing tools and strategies.

Accessible tourism

We’re supporting the development of inclusive experiences in the Victorian visitor economy. We want to make sure that the state’s tourism destinations and events can be enjoyed by everyone.

There are resources available to support the Victorian tourism industry to become more accessible and inclusive.

The WELCOME Framework

The WELCOME Framework is a guide to help tourism businesses to become more accessible. It was produced by Austrade in collaboration with state and territory governments.

The framework highlights easy ways to improve the customer experience for all travellers.

Resources and additional information

Find out about accessible tourism and general resources about disability access and inclusion.

• Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022-2026
• City of Melbourne Accessing Melbourne checklists 
• Arts Access Victoria
• Disability Gateway

Sustainable tourism

Operating an environmentally sustainable tourism business offers multiple advantages. Beyond minimising environmental impact and preserving natural resources, you can also lower operating costs, attract new customers, enhance reputation, and help recruit and retain quality staff.

There are resources and tools available to help you operate a more environmentally sustainable tourism business:

• Business Victoria – Sustainability: Learn how to keep your business viable while considering its social and environmental impact.
• Sustainability Victoria - Small Business Energy Saver Program: Get support in identifying which equipment in your business should be upgraded for better energy efficiency.
• Victorian Government Victorian Energy Saver website: Find information on energy efficiency, cost savings and available business grants.
• Australian Government energy rebates and assistance: Check for current rebates and financial support for energy efficiency improvements.
• The Sustainable Tourism Toolkit is a ‘how-to’ guide designed to help tourism businesses to implement sustainable practices.

Programs and awards

Quality Tourism Framework

The Quality Tourism Framework (QTF) is a suite of national programs supporting the ongoing development of Australian tourism businesses. Programs include Quality Tourism Accreditation, Star Ratings and the Victorian Tourism Awards.

Visit Victoria

Visit Victoria offers a range of industry development programs and resources to help tourism businesses grow, improve their marketing and prepare for international markets.

Victorian Tourism Awards

The Victorian Tourism Awards are held annually to recognise the achievements and contributions of Victorian tourism businesses.

Victorian Tourism Leadership Program

The Victorian Tourism Leadership Program helps individuals develop leadership skills in the tourism industry. It covers key topics like values, productivity, emotional intelligence, leadership strategies, communication, coaching, and goal setting.

Participants gain valuable knowledge to strengthen their skills and advance their careers in tourism.

Tourism road signing

If you operate a business which primarily attracts and caters for visitors from outside your local area, you may be eligible for road signing.

Visit the VicRoads website to find out more information about tourism road signing, or contact your local council or regional Department of Transport and Planning office.