Tasmanians will be permitted to use their government travel vouchers at Airbnbs

New details have been revealed about when you will be able to use your special COVID-19 travel vouchers and whether short-stay accommodation providers will be included. INDUSTRY RESPONSE >>

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TASMANIANS will not be able to used their travel vouchers until next month and short-stay accommodation providers will be included as part of the state’s new tourism initiative.

To encourage intrastate tourism, Premier Peter Gutwein announced earlier this week that Tasmanians would be given a travel voucher — up to $100 to use for accommodation or up to $50 to use on a tourism experience.

Luke Martin from TICT. Tourism recovery plan launch at Grand Chancellor. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said he supported the initiative but Tasmanians needed more information, with the scheme set to begin from September 7.

“There needs to be detail released soon, as we understand people are delaying making travel plans until they see how the vouchers work,” he said.

On Friday, Mr Gutwein confirmed that short-stay accommodation platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz would considered commercial accommodation for the purposes of the scheme.

“They pay tax, therefore they would be eligible for the use of a voucher. Likewise would be a caravan park, for example," he said.

“Different people will have a range of different tastes.

“What we do want to see are people moving around the state midweek and filling up beds in parts of the state that at the moment aren’t being filled.”

Premier Peter Gutwein speaks at a coronavirus press conference on Friday 21st August 2020. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

However, Mr Martin believed professional tourism operators should be prioritised.

“In terms of Airbnb, right now all assistance must be prioritised to professional tourism operators whose livelihood is on the line — not subsidising people’s shacks,” he said.

Concerns were also raised about Tasmanians begin unable to use their vouchers for accommodation on weekends.

Wrest Point General Manager Andrew Fox hoping that many Tasmanians will use their travel vouchers to stay at their venue. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Wrest Point general manager Andrew Fox said the scheme’s success would hinge on how many Tasmanians could actually take time out to travel midweek.

“It’s definitely hard for people if they’re working or if they have kids in school,” he said.

“We hope that Wrest Point and Country Club will see some benefit from the vouchers. They are the only two of Federal Group’s five accommodation venues that are currently open midweek.

“We’ve had great support for MACq01 and Saffire on weekends, but we believe they’re similar to a lot of tourism businesses that are operating on reduced hours, because there simply isn’t enough demand in the intrastate market to open and staff venues all week..”

Mr Gutwein said further information about the scheme would be announced next week.

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