NSW COVID voucher: Travel agents added to list of eligible businesses

NSW residents will begin to receive their dining vouchers from the state government today, in an effort to stimulate the economy.

Travel agencies have been added to the list of businesses where NSW residents can redeem their $100 activity vouchers as the government ­finalises the trial of the measure designed to stimulate the economy.

As many as 60,000 people living in the Sydney 2000 postcode will be emailed and invited to participate in the first trial of the program — which gives adults four lots of $25 vouchers to use for dining and entertainment — as soon as Tuesday.

The government has rebranded the scheme to “Dine and Discover NSW” after talks with Destination NSW advised this was a better name than the “out and about program” named in the Budget last week.

An expanded list of the types of businesses which will qualify for voucher use has been finalised, including “travel agencies and tours”, “recreational activities such as go-karting, indoor climbing, minigolf, billiards, bowling or icerinks” and “outdoor activities”.

People out at restaurants will soon be able to use their Dine and Discover vouchers. Picture: Damian Shaw

The second phase of the trial, from December 14 to January, will move to Broken Hill and the expanded CBD.

Under the early trial, 300 businesses in The Rocks precinct will be invited to register.

The vouchers will expire after three months.