Regional Travel Voucher Scheme FAQs

What is the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme?

We want Victorians to get out and explore our wonderful state, whether that’s a romantic weekend away or a family holiday, and in the process give our tourism businesses and workers a boost.

The Regional Travel Voucher Scheme will give Victorians an incentive to explore their state, by providing vouchers to Victorian residents to contribute to the costs of accommodation, tourism attractions or tours undertaken in regional Victoria, the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula.

Who is eligible to apply for the vouchers?

Victorian residents over the age of 18 are eligible to apply. Each household is limited to one voucher each.

Each voucher gives the voucher holder the right to claim for a reimbursement of $200 if they have spent at least $400 on accommodation, a tourism attraction or tour in regional Victoria, including the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges or the Mornington Peninsula. Even if the applicant spends more than $400 on tourism in regional Victoria, they are only entitled to a $200 reimbursement. This includes spending a minimum of 2 nights in paid accommodation.

When will this voucher scheme open?

The first round of vouchers was released on 11 December at 10.00am. More vouchers will be released in 2021.

Over what period of time can travel take place? 

The indicative key dates for this scheme are:

How does Victoria’s scheme compare to those in other states?

The Regional Travel Voucher Scheme is the largest travel voucher scheme in Australia.

Similar but smaller programs have been running in South Australia ($5 million), Tasmania ($12.5 million) and Northern Territory ($16.2 million).

How will the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme work?

Registration and redemption of vouchers will be a simple process:

• Applicants register for a voucher online.
• Applicants will receive an email within 24 hours acknowledging their registration is among the number of applicants available for that round and that they will receive a voucher subject to an eligibility check.
• Voucher recipients take their trip to regional Victoria during the eligible travel period.
• Following their trip, recipients will be able to redeem their voucher by providing invoices and receipts as evidence of eligible expenditure of $400 or more.
• Upon confirmation of eligible expenditure, voucher funds of $200 are transferred to the recipient’s nominated Australian bank account.

How the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme works

Where can the Regional Travel Vouchers be spent?

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 Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Cardinia Shire Council, Victoria’s six Alpine Resorts, French Island, Lady Julia Percy Island and Gabo Island. See below for a full list of eligible municipalities.

What can the vouchers be spent on?

To be eligible for redemption, the following criteria must be met:

• 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, including Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Victorian alpine ski resorts (see below for a list of eligible locations).
• 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; or
  • 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; or
  • 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.

What can’t vouchers be used for?

Vouchers cannot be used on items such as:

• 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 a bookable tourism product
• Groceries
• Personal items such as clothing and accessories
• Transport costs (rental vehicles, train and bus tickets).

Can I use the voucher for an existing booking?

Yes.

Can I stay in unpaid accommodation i.e. a holiday house?

No, you must stay in paid accommodation for your holiday. This scheme is designed to provide a boost to regional tourism businesses including accommodation providers; you still must spend at least $400 on accommodation, tours or entry fees to tourism attractions.

How much are the Regional Travel Vouchers worth?

The vouchers are worth $200 each and recipients must spend a minimum of $400 on eligible expenses.

What happens if I spend less than $400? Can I claim 50% of what I spend?

No. The vouchers are fixed at $200, and you must spend a minimum of $400 on eligible expenses.

How many vouchers can individuals get? Is there a limit?

Vouchers are available strictly one per household across all rounds of the scheme. Vouchers are not transferable.

When will the regional travel vouchers be valid for travel?

The vouchers will be valid during the travel period as set out in the table below. Vouchers will have a specific expiry dates based on the round of issue.

After that time that the voucher will become void and will not be able to be redeemed.

I got a voucher in Round 1. Can I use it Round 2 or Round 3?

No. Vouchers are only eligible for use in the eligible travel period for the round of allocation.

How do I claim my $200 travel voucher reimbursement?

You will receive an email after your proposed travel period to enable you to make your claim.

Using the link in this email, you can upload the evidence of eligible expenditure from your trip. Note that you will need to provide tax invoices and/or receipts for a value of at least $400.

The last day you can redeem your travel Voucher claim is:

• Round 1: 5 February 2021
• Round 2: 15 April 2021
• Round 3: 14 June 2021

When can I expect payment after redeeming my voucher?

We are aiming to process payments on a weekly basis following the claim period opening, as follows:

• Round 1: Between 11 January 2021 and 12 February 2021
• Round 2: Between 18 March 2021 and 22 April 2021
• Round 3: Between 17 May 2021 and 21 June 2021

These dates are approximate only.

Where will payments be made?

Payments of $200 will be made into your nominated Australian bank account.

We cannot make payments by cash or cheque.

What happens if I am unsuccessful in Round 1? Can I apply in future rounds?

Yes. You can apply in future rounds.

Why did I miss out on a travel voucher?

There is a limited number of vouchers available. The scheme works on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.

Additional vouchers will be released in future rounds in 2021.

Can I give my voucher to someone else to use?

No. Vouchers are non-transferable and only the person receiving the voucher can submit a claim for reimbursement. However, you can share your travel experiences with friends and family.

I‘ve lost my travel receipts. Can I still redeem my voucher and claim my $200 reimbursement?

To redeem your voucher, you will need to provide evidence of eligible expenditure from your trip. This means you will need to provide tax invoices and receipts for a value of at least $400.

Does the travel period include the night of the last day listed in the eligible travel period?

No.

The Eligible Travel Period ends at 11.59pm on:

• 22 January 2021 (Round 1)
• 1 April 2021 (Round 2)
• 31 May 2021 (Round 3)

I submitted a registration, and have received an SMS or an email, but not both.  What should I do? Have I received a travel voucher?

You may not have received both an email or a SMS for several reasons. This may include:

• Your email address provided may be incorrect
• The email may be in your spam folder. We suggest that you check your spam folder and add travelvouchers@ecodev.vic.gov.au to your preferred folder
• Your mobile number provided may be incorrect

As long as you have received either an SMS or an email acknowledging your registration, then your registration has been received. A further SMS will be sent approximately 5 days after registration to confirm your eligibility.

Does the 2 nights' accommodation have to be continuous? Or can I do two weekends away?

Yes. Your two nights' accommodation is required to be continuous.

Can I spend my voucher on two separate accommodation and activity charges in two separate LGAs?

Yes, as long as the two paid nights' accommodation are in the approved regional local government areas and relevant receipts are provided, you can spend money across multiple locations.

If a travel accommodation invoice is in 3 people’s names, who are from separate households, can each of them separately claim the same invoice.  i.e. A $1200 holiday rental invoice.

Yes.  If a service or expense has been provided to separate households, and that invoice cannot be split, then each household may claim their share of the invoice.  This assumes that each household has received a Travel Voucher.

Who is administering the program?

This program is being administered by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions on behalf of the Victorian Government.

What if I need any further assistance?

For further assistance please contact us or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.

Which regional municipalities are eligible?

The following municipalities are included in the 11 Regional Tourism regions:

1. Alpine Shire Council
2. Ararat Rural City Council
3. Ballarat City Council
4. Bass Coast Shire Council
5. Baw Baw Shire Council
6. Benalla Rural City Council
7. Buloke Shire Council
8. Campaspe Shire Council
9. Cardinia Shire Council
10. Central Goldfields Shire Council
11. Colac‐Otway Shire Council
12. Corangamite Shire Council
13. East Gippsland Shire Council
14. Falls Creek Alpine resort
15. Frankston City Council
16. French Island
17. Gabo island
18. Gannawarra Shire Council
19. Glenelg Shire Council
20. Golden Plains Shire Council
21. Greater Bendigo City Council
22. Greater Geelong City Council
23. Greater Shepparton City Council
24. Hepburn Shire Council
25. Hindmarsh Shire Council
26. Horsham Rural City Council
27. Indigo Shire Council
28. Lady Julia Percy island
29. Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
30. Latrobe City Council
31. Loddon Shire Council
32. Macedon Ranges Shire Council
33. Mansfield Shire Council
34. Mildura Rural City Council
35. Mitchell Shire Council
36. Moira Shire Council
37. Moorabool Shire Council
38. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
39. Mount Alexander Shire Council
40. Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort
41. Mount Buller Alpine Resort
42. Mount Hotham Alpine Resort
43. Mount Stirling Alpine Resort
44. Moyne Shire Council
45. Murrindindi Shire Council
46. Nillumbik Shire Council
47. Northern Grampians Shire Council
48. Pyrenees Shire Council
49. Queenscliffe Borough
50. South Gippsland Shire Council
51. Southern Grampians Shire Council
52. Strathbogie Shire Council
53. Surf Coast Shire Council
54. Swan Hill Rural City Council
55. Towong Shire Council
56. Wangaratta Rural City Council
57. Warrnambool City Council
58. Wellington Shire Council
59. West Wimmera Shire Council
60. Wodonga City Council
61. Yarra Ranges Shire Council
62. Yarriambiack Shire Council