Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program

About the initiative

From 6.00pm on Sunday 2 August 2020, Stage 4 restrictions apply in metropolitan Melbourne to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria.

From 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August, Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions apply in regional Victoria.

The restrictions mean that Victorian and interstate visitors will have to cancel their accommodation bookings with providers in regional Victoria.

Accommodation businesses in regional Victoria impacted by these cancellations can apply for direct financial support through the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program.

Applications are open and have been extended until 14 September 2020 for cancellations made until Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions end on 13 September 2020, or when funds are exhausted.

Accommodation business are strongly encouraged to download and read the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program Guidelines, as well as read the FAQs for this initiative before submitting an application.

Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program Guidelines (PDF 289.18 KB)

Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program Guidelines (DOCX 1513.15 KB)

Note: On the application you are required to provide details of eligible cancelled bookings. You may enter up to eight on the application form. Use this Cancelled Bookings Template (XLSX 50.62 KB) to attach any additional eligible cancellations to your application separately.

What support is available?

Accommodation providers across regional Victoria with an Australian Business Number (ABN) can make a claim for a payment of up to $225 per night (up to a maximum of $1125 per bookable accommodation offering) for the period of the current restrictions, provided they have refunded in full (including any deposit) the money paid towards a booking to a person/s who can no longer travel as a result of restrictions.

What type of business can apply?

The program is available to accommodation providers in the eleven Victorian Regional Tourism Regions (48 regional and rural councils plus a number of interface councils in the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula; Victoria’s six ski resorts; Gabo, French Islands).

The accommodation provider (or an accommodation booking agent applying on behalf of the accommodation provider) must be registered with an ABN prior to 30 June 2020 to make a claim.

How to apply

Applications must be made via the ‘Apply now’ button on this page. Applications are open until 14 September 2020, for cancellations made until the end of the current restrictions on 13 September 2020 or when funds are exhausted.

For further questions, please refer to the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program FAQs.

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