Tourism Accommodation Australia National CEO Michael Johnson has praised hospitality voucher programs introduced in Tasmania and the Northern Territory and called on other state governments to follow suit.

Johnson said the programs, which offer subsidised vouchers for accommodation and tourism experiences, were great examples of how governments can help stimulate intrastate-tourism.

“With no international travel, and state border closures a reality for the foreseeable future, we need to get tourists to travel in their own state,” said Johnson.

“These programs are a great way to stimulate intra-state tourism, they are good for accommodation hotels, tourism operators and the wider hospitality and visitor economy.

In the NT, more than 26,000 vouchers worth $200 are available to Territorians to put towards a tourism experience, tour, accommodation, hire car or recreational fishing charter, as long as they match the spend with their own money.

The $5.2 million voucher initiative is supported by a marketing campaign ‘Never have I ever...’ and has been developed in partnership with Regional Tourism Organisations, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia.

“I encourage State and Territory governments across the country to adopt similar programs,” said Johnson.

“They are not going to save our industry, but they may just bring us back from the brink, particularly in our suffering state CBDs and regions and allow us to keep trading and employing people until business returns to some form of normal.

The $7.5 million Tasmanian “Make Yourself at Home” voucher incentive scheme will run between 7 September 2020 and 1 December 2020, including during the important school holiday period.

Tasmanians can register online to get up to $150 in accommodation vouchers and/or tourism experience vouchers.

In the NT, more than 26,000 vouchers worth $200 are available to Territorians to put towards a tourism experience, tour, accommodation, hire car or recreational fishing charter, as long as they match the spend with their own money.

The $5.2 million voucher initiative is supported by a marketing campaign ‘Never have I ever...’ and has been developed in partnership with Regional Tourism Organisations, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia.

“I encourage State and Territory governments across the country to adopt similar programs,” said Johnson.

“They are not going to save our industry, but they may just bring us back from the brink, particularly in our suffering state CBDs and regions and allow us to keep trading and employing people until business returns to some form of normal.

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