Calls for state government to extend $200 travel vouchers to Melbourne’s struggling CBD

Daniel Andrews’ pre-Christmas travel voucher perk for tired Victorians has launched with utter confusion after his team forgot one crucial element.

Thousands of Victorians trying to apply for the state government’s $200 regional travel vouchers have come across a major flaw in the online application system - there is no “apply now” button.

Despite the government website stating “Applicants must submit a registration online, via the ‘Apply now’ button on this page”, users cannot seem to find the feature.

The first 40,000 of 120,000 vouchers, valued at $200 each, were supposed to be made available at 10am on Friday in a bid to kickstart tourism spending to help regional Victoria rebound after the coronavirus lockdown.

Users have flocked to Twitter expressing their confusion and anger.

.@DanielAndrewsMP if you’re going to offer a travel voucher, surely you would make sure you’re system could handle it and not show 500 internal server error or if it does load, actually have the Apply button available #hopeless #nosurprise #uselessgovernment

— Helena Denley (@helenadenley) December 10, 2020

Those Regional Travel vouchers. We're gonna need those Apply Buttons. I can't be idling here waiting for them.... pic.twitter.com/0J0471Bd5M

— Rudra Saha (@rudrasahaco) December 10, 2020

NCA NewsWire has also trawled the site, but cannot find an apply now button.

There are also huge queues for those calling a Business Victoria consultant via the information hotline.

The vouchers can be redeemed after people travel to regional Victoria and spend at least $400 on accommodation, experiences or tours.

There is no link to an apply button on the government’s regional Victoria travel voucher application site.

It comes as business owners urge the state government to extend its travel vouchers program to central Melbourne in a desperate bid to revitalise the struggling CBD precinct.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said operators in Melbourne’s CBD were crying out for an equivalent program which would see foot traffic increase in the city again.

“I know a lot of the operators in Melbourne would like to see a voucher program in Melbourne for sure,” she told the Today Show on Friday morning.

“What we do need to see, first and foremost we know our borders are opening again, our airport is busy again.

“I spoke to the guys from Melbourne Airport the other day. They are now seeing 20,000 people a day through the airport where a couple of weeks ago they were only seeing 1200 people a day through the airport.

“So we are getting visitors back in but we need that interstate travel. Because that‘s really who is going to stay in our hotels and stay in the city.”

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani says CBD operators want a travel voucher program.

Ms Mariani said many Victorians were opting to travel within the state over the Christmas and summer periods.

“Everyone I‘m talking to that has tried to get out and about is struggling to find accommodation right now,” she said.

“I guess that is a good thing. Not so good for us as the consumer but certainly really good for our operators.”

Melbourne’s CBD has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula said he expected there to be very high demand for the vouchers.

“For this first tranche, I would expect demand to outstrip supply — that‘s been the experience in other parts of the country,” he said on Thursday.

“We‘ve tried to be generous but 40,000 is the limit for the first tranche and each tranche.”

“It‘s a perfect opportunity to enjoy an extra night’s accommodation on the weekend getaway, or experience one of our many tours or attractions.”