Due to the economic effect left by COVID-19 lockdown, The Victorian Government has announced a $200 million business stimulus package to revive the hard-hit tourism sector in the state. This package provides vouchers for entertainment, dining, and travel to drive back the foot traffic back to Melbourne’s CBD.

These vouchers will act as a cash injection that will allow:

• $100m voucher scheme for rebates on entertainment, dining and travel
• $10m to bring back Melbourne Money
• $30m rebates of food and wine in regional areas
• $30m rebates on theatre, museums, galleries across all Victoria
• $30m travel vouchers scheme

The cash injection of $30 million in entertainment vouchers will offer rebates on tickets for entertainment activities, such as watching a movie in a theatre, visiting live music concerts, booking cinemas, travelling museums, galleries, conferences, exhibitions and other enjoyable events across the Victoria.

Out of the $100 million voucher scheme, $10 million are reserved for the dine-ins. Also, the city’s popular dining vouchers will make a comeback with $10 million in Melbourne Money coupons. The vouchers will be up for grabs and the diners will reimburse their part of bills after eating at any of the CBD cafes, bars, and restaurants.

The major part of the Victorian Government’s new $200 million business stimulus package will be held by the entertainment, dining and travel vouchers.

As the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the city, Lord Mayor Sally Capp said, the traders in Melbourne CBD had witnessed 83 per cent of pre-pandemic foot traffic. Starting from the Melbourne city, the voucher scheme will extend across the state with a $30 million program that provides rebates on food and wine in the regional and suburban areas.

According to Martin Pakula, the Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, the package would start at or around March 7, 2022, with an aim to help affected businesses recover from the pandemic crisis.