‘Use or lose’ voucher plea
TASMANIANS lucky enough to secure a travel voucher in the latest round of the popular scheme encouraging intrastate visitation are being urged to make sure they cash it in.
Less than three weeks remain for Tasmanians to make themselves at home under the program, with the window for redeemable travel set from August 2-September 24.
As at September 1, about 2200 voucher redemption requests had been submitted, out of a total of 25,000 vouchers granted, with the state government expecting redemptions to grow considerably in coming weeks.
A ballot system was introduced for the current round and more than 148,000 people registered, meaning just one in six of them were successful.
The program is designed to help Tasmanian operators struggling because of the continued border lockouts of NSW and Victoria, the state’s two largest domestic markets.
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said that with such a large number of vouchers still yet to be redeemed, it was important people were reminded to travel.
“If you’ve got one, you are very lucky to. Please use it,’’ he said.
“We don’t want to see the money sitting there. Make an effort to use them over the next three weeks. Consider it your patriotic duty for your fellow Tasmanians.”
Mr Martin suggested if people in Hobart or Launceston were unable to travel to the regions, they could instead spend a night at a local hotel.
Federal Group says its own voucher scheme to encourage visitation had so far been a success.
The group rolled out $100 “forbidden vouchers” that could be used at six restaurants and bars in Hunter St, when booking a stay at Henry Jones Art Hotel or MACq 01 Hotel.
Federal Group tourism general manager Matt Casey said the vouchers had generated significant interest, resulting in more than 640 new bookings at the two hotels, for a total of 828 room nights.
“There has been strong demand for stays on Friday and Saturday nights, but unfortunately things are still soft midweek,’’ he said.
“This makes sense when you consider locals are probably at work during the week and taking the opportunity to explore Tassie on weekends.”
Mr Casey said the response to the voucher scheme had been encouraging, particularly as there were still cancellations coming in for the weeks and months ahead because of interstate lockdowns.
Mr Martin said the state’s tourism operators were hoping for a fruitful summer, suggesting other potential support packages and targeting interstate markets whose borders are open.
He said until high vaccination rates were achieved, businesses would continue to do it tough and only when it happens could a “new sense of normality” return.