Cinemas receive boost with Dine and Discover vouchers

Hundreds of thousands of $25 COVID vouchers are being redeemed with a specific industry – one of the biggest beneficiaries of the stimulus.

Hundreds of thousands of $25 stimulus vouchers are being redeemed at cinemas, resulting in the once-struggling industry roaring back to life

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet yesterday attended Burwood Events Cinemas — in Labor Leader Jodi McKay’s electorate of Strathfield — to mark the milestone of 400,000 Dine and Discover vouchers being redeemed for cinemas.

After the food and beverage services industry, the motion picture and sound recording activities industry has been the biggest beneficiary of the $25 vouchers taxpayers have been asked to spend to bust the COVID slump.

Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and CEO of events cinemas Luke Mackey at Event Cinemas, Burwood. Picture: Justin Lloyd

More than 12 million vouchers have been issued so far, with an average spend per customer of $41.

Of the vouchers issued, 2.3 million have been redeemed.

Each taxpayer in NSW is entitled to four $25 vouchers.

“This is a blockbuster fightback for the movie industry with our vouchers playing the perfect sidekick,” Mr Perrottet said after meeting with Event Cinema director Luke Mackey yesterday.

“To see people flooding back to the movies is a great boost for a business that did it so tough during the darkest days of the pandemic. With lockdowns, social distancing restrictions and a lack of content, cinemas have been facing an uphill battle but it is fantastic to see so many people using these vouchers to help those who work in the cinema industry bounce back.”

Mr Mackey said: “We have jumped on board this great initiative by the NSW government, designing great cinema offers that ensure maximum value for customers. It is exciting to see more and more customers … supporting local businesses.’’