Last chance to score experience and accommodation vouchers in River Revival voucher initiative

More than 130,000 people have entered the ballot for a free River Revival tourism voucher – and the number is expected to rise before 10pm.

More than 130,000 people have already registered to receive a tourism voucher as part of a government initiative to boost tourism to the River Murray.

The River Revival Voucher program, similar to the program rolled out to kickstart tourism after the pandemic, kicked off at 9am Monday and will offer more than 25,000 vouchers across three rounds – autumn, winter, spring.

By 3pm on Wednesday, seven hours before the ballot closes, 134,698 people across South Australia and Victoria registered for up to two vouchers.

“I’m so thrilled that so many people are applying – we have every confidence that the River regions will soon experience strong results in visitation and economic growth,” Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said.

Murray River Big Bend Picture: South Australian Tourism Commission

Round one offers $50 experience vouchers, $100 for a minimum one-night stay accommodation, and $200 for a minimum two-night stay accommodation. Tourists can register for their chance to score up to two voucher values.

A $750 houseboat voucher will be introduced in rounds two and three, allowing South Australians to plan a houseboat holiday in the winter and spring periods when most houseboats are expected to be fully operational again.

More than 90 operators have signed up to be part of the first voucher round, which is open to all South Australians over the age of 18, as well as Victorians in an effort to entice residents in cross-border communities such as Mildura, Horsham and the Grampians.

An additional $500,000 has been announced for a further round later this year targeted towards businesses yet to reopen, such as affected areas of the Mid-Murray Council region.

From caravan parks and motels to luxury accommodation and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, the businesses taking part in the promotion are listed below.

Canoe Adventures – Katarapko Creek, Murray River National Park Picture: South Australian Tourism Commission

One of which is luxury accommodation The Frames at the Riverland, which boasts stunning retreats starting from $1300 a night.

With a River Revival voucher that price is shaved by $100 for a night’s stay.

The ballot opened at 9am Monday at southaustralia.com/voucher and will remain open until 10pm on March 29. Winners will be drawn on March 30, with the booking period running until April 28 and the travel period running from March 31 to June 29, including the Easter period and the school holidays.

The Frames, luxury accommodation at Paringa in South Australia’s Riverland, overlooking the River Murray Image supplied

Ms Bettison said the voucher program was aimed at injecting cash into a Murray tourism sector which – in most cases – was shut down through the traditionally busy summer period.

“We know tourism operators missed out on their traditional summer peak period, which is why we’re urging South Australians to take a holiday to the river through autumn, winter and spring,” Ms Bettison said.

“The cooler months are an incredible time on the Murray and with businesses reopening, there is so much on offer.

“When the ballot opens … the first of more than 25,000 River Revival Vouchers will be up for grabs which will trigger thousands of river holidays from later this month right through Easter, the April school holidays and all of June.

“This is just the first round of vouchers in a staggered approach as informed by industry, with more rounds to come to support those businesses not yet ready to operate.”

Ms Bettison said the government’s $4.6 million Murray River tourism support package aimed to inject funds into a sector “worth $436 million to South Australia’s economy prior to the flooding event.”