Murray and Mallee tourism budget spend set at $15.2 million

NEXT week’s Victorian Budget will include a $15.2 million spend to drive visitation and spending in the Murray and Mallee tourism regions.

The funding takes in $10.3 million to upgrade walking and cycling tracks as part of the Murray River Adventure Trail and a further $4.9 million to upgrade the Mallee Silo Art Trail.

In August last year, Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) made a formal submission to the Review into Regional Tourism in Victoria on the need for serious investment in regional infrastructure development.

VTIC chief executive Felicia Mariani said the investment would help to push the much-needed recovery of the tourism industry into overdrive.

“VTIC has worked closely with industry to identify critical infrastructure projects that could help to support recovery of the sector and drive improved tourism outcomes across the state,” Ms Mariani said.

“It’s magnificent to see that two of the projects that we identified in April have made the list for planned investment.

“Victoria has underinvested in its regional accommodation and experience development when compared to other states, lagging 10 per cent behind the national average.

“This dearth of investment has worked against efforts to get visitors to travel further, stay longer and spend more in regional Victoria.”

Regional visitors in Victoria also spend less when compared to the rest of Australia.

In Victoria, 36 cents of every visitor dollar spent is spent in regional areas, while nationally the regional figure is 43 cents, making Victoria the weakest-performing state.

“VTIC is calling for $1.3 billion over four years to be dedicated in the budget to recovery of the sector,” Ms Mariani said.

“While some of that ask is focused on investing in dedicated marketing and promotional activity, a large proportion was earmarked in infrastructure and experience development across Victoria.

“That’s why VTIC is thrilled to see these investments becoming reality, as they are so critical to our recovery from the coronavirus crisis that has decimated the sector.”