Home » TOURISM NEWS » Victoria’s Tourism Set To Thrive With New Government-Backed Projects
Friday, August 23, 2024
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The Allan Labor Government is fueling Regional Victoria’s tourism growth with new projects, offering up to $500,000 in grants to boost local attractions.
The Allan Labor Government is set to boost tourism in Regional Victoria by supporting a variety of new local initiatives.
Today, Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events, visited the Art Gallery of Ballarat to unveil funding for 29 regional projects through the 2024 Enabling Tourism Fund.
These projects, which can receive up to $500,000 each, will be aided in reaching investment-ready stages through feasibility studies and the design of prospective infrastructure.
The Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia’s oldest regional gallery, plans to use the grant to create a masterplan aimed at hosting major exhibitions to attract more visitors.
Funding recipients include Bendigo’s Great Stupa, set to draft a comprehensive masterplan for a new visitor center featuring a cafe and museum, alongside a wellness hotel and spa.
Simon Toohey’s Sustainable Earth Network is another beneficiary, aiming to explore establishing a permanent market in the Geelong and Bellarine area to showcase local food producers, growers, and manufacturers.
Phillip Island’s tourism will also enhance, with Reptile Encounters receiving funds to plan a cutting-edge zoo, augmenting the island’s already famous nature and wildlife offerings.
The Enabling Tourism Fund, part of a $170 million initiative, seeks to create jobs, bolster tourism businesses, and draw more visitors to the region’s myriad attractions as outlined in the Labor Government’s strategic plan, Experience Victoria 2033. This plan focuses on five key areas: First Peoples’-led experiences, Wellness, Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, and Nature.
Each project funded aligns with these strategic priorities, aiming to fortify and expand Victoria’s tourism sector.
