$250 million will be injected into regional Australia, encouraging more Australians to travel and experience a home-grown holiday, boosting regional jobs and local economies.
The package include two measures announced today, a $50 million Regional Tourism Recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism and $200 million for an additional round of the Building Better Regions Fund.
Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the funding saying the package would deliver targeted support for regional tourism from Bass Coast to Walhalla, Wilsons Promontory to Mount Baw Baw.
“By investing $200 million in an additional round of the Building Better Regions Fund we are investing $200 million in securing regional Australia’s future.
“This Budget will set aside $200 million for projects to boost local infrastructure in regional communities, $100 million of which will be dedicated to tourism-related infrastructure.
“We know every dollar spent on building local communities is a dollar well spent and that is at the heart of our economic plan for a more secure and resilient Australia.
Mr Broadbent said the Regional Tourism Recovery initiative would target regions that had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic such as Phillip Island helping them to bounce back firstly by attracting more Australians and then overseas visitors when our international borders re-open.
“Tourism is such an important job creator and driver of many regional economies. We want to make sure that our tourism regions are in the best possible shape on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This targeted new fund will support internationally dependent tourism regions to adapt their offerings, experiences and marketing to appeal to domestic visitors in the short-term and be in the strongest possible position to welcome back international tourists down the track.
“More local jobs, better community infrastructure and a boost to our local economy – that is exactly what the Building Better Regions Funding program and the Regional Tourism Recovery initiative will bring.
“I look forward to seeing local tourism and infrastructure programs being constructed that will not only support local families and jobs but will be vital for the tourism for when we can welcome visitors back to our great region.
BBRF Round 5 will be delivered like its previous four rounds, with Infrastructure Project and Community Investment streams. Grant Opportunity Guidelines will be made available shortly, consistent with the existing BBRF framework, to assist potential applicants.
