Regional Victoria’s event industry has received a welcome boost in funding - with the announcement that for the first time ever the Federal government will support business events in the area.

The cash injection is part of the Australian Government’s $2million package to support the country’s business events sector, and Regional Victoria will receive $150,000 in funding from the Government to showcase the destination has a prime spot for conferences, events, meetings and incentives. These funds have been matched with a further $150,000 contribution from Tourism Victoria, the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau and the local tourism industry.

 

Australian Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP announced the funding, commenting: “We are pleased to provide this funding for Victoria’s regional areas which are showing remarkable resilience in the face of difficult trading conditions. 2009 was an extraordinarily difficult year for the State with the February bushfires, which were Australia’s worst ever national disaster, swine flu and the Global Financial Crisis. The practical support that we’re providing is what’s needed to help drive visitation and encourage organisations to consider holding their next event in a regional area.” Corporate events in Victoria contribute $1.2billion each year to the Victorian economy and now the funding is a real opportunity for the area to promote its business offerings to a wide audience.