Greater Geelong and the Bellarine will be able to welcome more regional tourism, thanks to support from the state government.
Bellarine and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism and Tourism Greater Geelong will receive funding through the Regional Tourism Network Industry Strengthening Program.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said funding would ensure regional tourism businesses continued to benefit from tailored training programs.
“We’re backing local experts to deliver targeted support for local tourism operators and support the continued growth of Victoria’s world-class tourism offerings,” he said.
“We continue investing in our tourism sector to give visitors unique experiences across the state and to ensure regional Victoria’s visitor economy continues to thrive.”
The program supports Victoria’s Visitor Economy Partnerships (VEPs) in delivering training to upskill and boost regional tourism businesses.
VEPs will be eligible to receive up to $100,000 each in additional funding under the program to ensure businesses continue to benefit from tailored training programs to improve visitor experiences.
Close to 1000 state tourism businesses have already benefited from the program with training and support in accessibility, sustainability, revenue management and artificial intelligence.
Data from Tourism Research Australia found that there were 56.8 million visitor trips to and within regional Victoria in 2024, helping inject $16 billion into local economies.
The program aims to continue growth across the state’s record $40 billion visitor economy and bolster the significant role of tourism and hospitality.
