How to redeem your $300 Tassie ‘Make Yourself at Home’ travel voucher
Tourism operators hope the next round of the government’s travel voucher scheme — which opens today — will see Tasmanians spending up as they explore their state. HOW TO REGISTER FOR YOUR VOUCHER >>
Tasmania
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Tassie tourism operators are hoping the next round of the government’s travel voucher scheme will see Tasmanians spending up as they explore the best of what the state has to offer.
Registration for the ballot opens 9am Thursday and will remain open to register until 5pm Monday.
Above & Beyond Tasmania Seaplanes managing director Henry Ellis operates scenic flights from Hobart’s waterfront and said the new travel vouchers scheme was welcome.
“We’re happy to see it back and encourage locals to get out and see their state,” he said.
Mr Ellis said since June, bookings had dropped about 30 to 40 per cent after lockdowns interstate.
“It’s a great scheme, especially during the current environment and in quieter times,” he said.
“It’s going to encourage more business within the tourism and hospitality sector across all regions of the state.”
>> REGISTRATIONS OPEN NOW: Click here to register for your $300 voucher or for those with limited access to internet, by phoning the hotline on 1800 344 077
The vouchers are worth $300 each, with the initiative offering up to $200 for accommodation and $100 for tourism experiences or attractions.
Mr Ellis said there had been an increase in customers going on scenic flights before the latest Covid lockdowns and he was hoping for another rise as people used their vouchers.
“We offer 30-minute scenic flights and 90-minute scenic flights. They enable you to see a great part of the state such as the Tasman Peninsula and Bruny Island – plus the unique experience of landing on the water,” he said.
Changes to the scheme include that the recipients are chosen through a ballot and the vouchers can be redeemed at the weekend.
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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania Chief Executive Luke Martin said the key message was for those who were lucky enough to get a voucher was to go out and use it.
“It’s a confidence filler, everyone would be feeling pretty flat with the situation in New South Wales and Queensland and that has undermined confidence,” he said.
Mr Martin said regional attractions were some of the biggest benefactors from the previous voucher scheme.
“One said it was literally a business saver because they had lost interstate and international travellers and we’re hoping it will happen again,” he said.
Premier Peter Gutwein said there was a lot of interest in the previous scheme and it was expected to be the same this time around.
“What we know from the last voucher scheme is there was just under $30m worth of additional spending in our economy as a result, and we expect this voucher scheme to be just as successful.” he said.
The winners will be notified on Wednesday if they have been successful and the vouchers are valid until September 24.
“If Victoria stays open and the rest of the country is able to open in back half of the year, we would expect a very strong visitor season in the summer and we will be able get out of this cycle of needing government assistance,” Mr Martin said.
How it works
You will have five days (Thursday 5th to Monday 9th August) to enter a ballot for a $300 voucher to spend on Tasmanian accommodation and experiences.
Travel vouchers will be allocated at complete random using a number generator system once registrations have closed.
Step 1: Register from 9am Thursday August 5 to 5pm Monday August 9, 2021 via the Travel Vouchers website or for those with limited access to internet, by phoning the hotline on 1800 344 077
Step 2: Look out for an email and SMS on Wednesday, August 11 to see if you’ve been randomly allocated a $300 voucher. Make sure to check your junk email and spam folders and allow 48 hours to receive your notification.
Step 3: If you got a voucher, head out on your Tassie adventures before Friday, September 24, 2021.
Step 4: Use your unique code sent via email to redeem your voucher online once you’ve completed your travel activities.
The fine print
You can register for the voucher ballot if you live in Tasmania, and are aged 18 years or older at the time of registration.
How to use the voucher
You can redeem up to $200 of your voucher towards your stay at eligible accommodation and up to $100 towards the value of your eligible experience.
You can do this once you have completed and paid for your stay and have a valid tax invoice or proof of purchase.
Don’t forget to ask for a receipt or tax invoice from the eligible accommodation or experience business (for example, the hotel or tour operator) – you will need this to redeem your voucher along with ID (e.g. your driver’s licence), the name of the business and the dates you completed your travel activity.
You can redeem your voucher once you have completed and paid for your eligible accommodation or activity undertaken between Monday, August 2 and Friday, September 24, 2021.
Where can I use my voucher?
Accommodation
You can redeem up to $200 of your voucher towards your stay at eligible accommodation.
You can redeem your voucher after you have completed and paid for accommodation any day of the week (Monday to Sunday) at establishments allowing short-term stay between Monday, 2 August and Friday, 24 September 2021:
Property styles can include apartments, backpacker and hostels, bed and breakfasts, motorhome hire, cabins or caravans in holiday parks, caravan and camping site fees, cottages, farm stays, holiday houses, motels, hotels, resorts, retreats and lodges.
Experiences
You can redeem up to $100 of your voucher towards an eligible experience.
You can redeem this portion of your voucher after you have completed and paid for an experience undertaken any day of the week in the between Monday, 2 August and Friday, 24 September 2021:
- Tours: Tour operators that offer regularly organised tours with a leisure-tourism focus, organised by experienced guides. These may include a personal host and/or commentary. For example, a boat cruise, guided walk, bus tour, air tour, agritourism, food and wine tour, outdoor and adventure tour, cooking class.
- Attractions: Places/areas of interest that offer a distinct visitor experience to the leisure tourist and that have a fee for entry. For example, an air walk, zoo, golf tourism at Barnbougle The Dunes, Barnbougle Lost Farm, Cape Wickham Links and Ocean Dunes, Mole Creek and Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs Pool, museums, Port Arthur.
- Mountain biking activities including bike hire, shuttle buses and trail passes.
- Maria Island Ferry, accommodation, bike hire, walking tours.
- Car hire for touring purposes.
- Equipment hire that is part of a tour/accommodation package.
- Experiences such as ziplining, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing charters, etc.
See more Frequently Asked Questions at www.travelvoucherstasmania.com.au/faqs
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