Tasmania government tourism and food vouchers: Eat Local Stay Local initiative now open

Registrations for the Eat Local Stay Local voucher scheme are now open, giving you the chance of $100 to spend on travel and dining across Tasmania this winter.

Tourism minister Jane Howlett, CEO of Tourism Tasmania Sarah Clark, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and THA CEO Steve Old launching the new tourism vouchers at Lost in Asia in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

More than 15,000 Tasmanians have applied for $100 travel and dining vouchers intended to give the state’s hospitality industry a midwinter boost in the first day of the scheme’s operation.

Registrations for the Eat Local Stay Local voucher scheme opened on Monday.

Tasmanians have two weeks to register for one of 100,000 vouchers, valued at $100 each.

Premier and Tourism Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the government was investing in the tourism and hospitality industry.

“These vouchers are a key part of this year’s Budget which includes more than $57m of investment into the tourism industry, helping drive visitation across the state,” he said.

“We cannot underestimate the importance of our tourism industry for our economy. For every dollar visitors spend, another 83 cents is generated in our economy – this means we can invest more into our schools, our hospitals and roads.

“This initiative will give local businesses a confidence boost over the coming months so we want to see people out and about, enjoying a meal at their local pub or restaurant.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief Steve Old welcomed the grants program, which he said would help tourism operators doing it tough.

“Obviously winter has proven over a long period that’s a tough time for our hospitality operators,” he said.

“Our occupancy statistics go from summer at high eighty or ninety per cent down to mid-fifties.

“So to have the injection of having these vouchers out as a program for us, the hospitality industry in winter is a cracking idea.”

Tourism minister Jane Howlett and CEO of Tourism Tasmania Sarah Clark launching the new tourism vouchers at Lost in Asia in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Clark said she was thrilled at the response so far.

“The vouchers align perfectly with our off-season campaign, which is up and running at the moment, really encouraging people to become a winter person and get out and embrace winter.

“We know that a lot of Australians and Tasmanians wish away the winter, but we really want people to get out there and embrace it. And the vouchers is a great way to see that happening.”

Online registrations are open until 5pm on June 16 and Tasmanians can also visit a Service Tasmania service centre to register.

Recipients will be randomly allocated through a ballot process. Successful recipients will be notified at the end of June and will need to use their vouchers by the end of October.

To register, visit www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/eatlocalstaylocal.

Originally published as Tasmania government tourism and food vouchers: Eat Local Stay Local initiative now open