How to get hundreds off a King Island trip

A $300 travel incentive for accommodation and tourism experiences will be offered to try to lure visitors to King Island. HOW TO APPLY >>

A $300 travel incentive for accommodation and tourism experiences will be offered to try to lure visitors to King Island.

Tourism Minister Guy Barnett said the $300 was one of several incentives being offered including a winter return airfare of $300 per person between Hobart and King Island for a limited number of seats.

“We know that because of Covid, King Island has experienced a significant decline in visitors during what would normally be its busiest period of the year,” Mr Barnett said.

“To accelerate visitation back to the island we are implementing several initiatives that are expected to generate significant support and business for the island’s tourism operators and the economy in general.”

The $300 travel incentive scheme will be available for 700 bookings between May 1 and July 31 2022.

Sharp Airlines’ winter limited fare offer will go on sale on Monday February 14.

Earlier this week, the government announced the extension of its underwriting agreement for the continuation of Sharp Airline flights between both Hobart and King Island and Hobart and Flinders Island.

King Island, Tasmania

Mr Barnett said Sharp also operated regular flights between Launceston and the Island, so the travel incentive would be attractive to people living in the north of the State as well.

“Fares from Melbourne to the Island are traditionally good value during the winter months,” he said.

“To support these initiatives Tourism Tasmania is preparing a $100,000 promotional campaign in partnership with local industry and the Council.

Final details are being worked through, however there is a great opportunity for this activity to leverage Tourism Tasmania’s upcoming $5.32 million Off Season campaign that will be running nationally from Easter.

Business Tasmania will send officers within the next fortnight to the island to meet with individual tourism and hospitality businesses that were severely impacted by the downturn in visitation, to explore ways that further support may be provided.

Meanwhile, 456 new cases of Covid have been reported in Tasmania.

There are now 3282 cases across the state with one person being treated in intensive care and nine if the 17 patients in hospital being treated for specific Covid symptoms.