Victorians are being encouraged to travel to regional Victoria to support bushfire-affected businesses and kick-start the road to recovery.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula met with tourism operators at Gippsland Lakes and to hear about the impact of the fires and how the community could help.
“Towns including Lakes Entrance, Metung, Paynesville and Loch Sport have the welcome sign out for fellow Victorians looking for a break now and over coming months,” Mr Pakula said.
“Visitors are also being encouraged to travel to the High Country with Bright, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Mansfield among regional centres welcoming visitors,” he said.
“The Victorian Government will provide Destination Gippsland and Tourism North East each with a $200,000 grant to pay for a staff member to work directly with tourism operators and to coordinate campaigns.”
Mr Pakula said the Government’s Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery program was an initiative that had won strong backing, with more than 150 organisations taking the pledge to hold conferences and events in regional Victoria.
Chief executive at Visit Victoria, Brendan McClements said the tourism and events company would hold a management team conference over two nights in Lakes Entrance as part of the program.
Furth information on the program can be accessed at this PS News link.
