Regional Victoria waits to welcome international tourists

With talk that international tourists will be required to be triple dosed to enter Victoria, our vibrant tourism industry must be wondering if it will ever end.

Daniel Andrews has so far fallen short of slamming a mandate on travellers, but his language indicates an announcement could be imminent.

This comes off the back of the Federal Government’s effort to stimulate the sector, announcing fully vaccinated travellers from overseas will be welcomed from 21 February.

Victoria’s events and tourism industries employs more than 320,000 people and contributes more than $44 billion a year to the state’s economy.

Shadow Tourism Minister, Cindy McLeish said the industry remains on a knife’s edge. “Victorians’ celebration of Australia’s borders reopening after almost two years of restrictions has been cut short.”

“Once again, Andrews shows his lack of regard for the businesses in this sector by making Victoria one of the most difficult places to live, visit and rebuild. While the rest of Australia will be welcoming overseas tourists, Victorians will be shut out.”

After enduring 263 days of lockdowns, regional Victorian hotspots such as Lorne, Yarrawonga and the high country have been stripped of visitors as thousands of jobs in the industry have evaporated.

Ms McLeish said the tourism industry deserved support from Government to have the confidence to rebuild and recover.

“I don’t want international tourists to miss out on what regional Victoria has to offer because the Government keeps making it harder for people to come here.”