Program closed
All applications for the Visitor Servicing Fund are now closed.
Program overview
Travel decisions are heavily influenced by information available to visitors, and we want to deliver more in-person customer service and online technology, ensuring visitors have all the information they need to get the most from their trip.
The Visitor Servicing Fund will support the Victorian tourism industry to deliver innovative tools that encourage people to stay longer and spend more across the state.
The Fund will ensure current and future visitor information needs are met and exceeded.
The Fund will help further Victoria’s position as a destination of choice for local and international visitors, by connecting people to attractions, local businesses and encouraging them to revisit.
It is part of the $3 million Visitor Servicing Program, a commitment under the $633 million Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan.
The Fund is being delivered in two grant streams:
- Stream A: up to $50,000 (excl. GST) for the creation or updating of visitor servicing strategies
- Stream B: between $50,001 and $625,000 (excl. GST) to support the delivery of major visitor servicing projects.
All applications for the Visitor Servicing Fund are now closed.
For a list of successful recipients, please visit the Tourism and events website.
Grant eligibility criteria
Stream A – Visitor servicing strategies
Applicants must be one of the following entity types to be eligible under Stream A:
- Recognised Victorian Regional Tourism Boards (RTBs)
- Victorian Councils, where they are not currently aligned with an RTB
Visitor Servicing Fund – Stream A applications are now closed.
Stream B – Major visitor servicing projects
Applicants must be one of the following entity types to be eligible under Stream B:
- Company incorporated in Australia
- Incorporated association
- Victorian Regional Tourism Boards
- Victorian Local Government entities and Victorian Government entities, including:
- Public Land Managers, Land Management Authorities and Committees of Management
- Local Government Authorities
- Universities and educational institutions
- Not-for-profit organisations, including community groups that are an incorporated body, cooperative or association
- Traditional Owner Corporations, organisations and groups, and Aboriginal-owned businesses
- Other incorporated entity approved by the Department.
Where the Fair Jobs Code applies, Stream B funding applicants must satisfy additional requirements. Please refer to program guidelines.
Visitor Servicing Fund – Stream B applications are now closed.
General applicant eligibility requirements
The following eligibility requirements apply to applicants of both Stream A and Stream B.
- Strategies or projects must encompass one or more official tourism region, as defined by Visit Victoria. In areas within these regions that are not currently aligned with an RTB (including greater Melbourne), strategies or projects must encompass a minimum of three local government areas as a joint submission.
- In line with the Visitor Servicing Fund’s objectives, eligible applicants must demonstrate that the strategy or project will be delivered in collaboration with multiple partner organisations.
- Partnerships between multiple RTBs, Councils and partner organisations (listed below) are permitted and encouraged.
- Partner organisations may include (but are not limited to):
- Relevant Victorian Government departments and agencies, such as Parks Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning
- Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport, other key regional airports, ferry operators etc
- First Peoples’ Traditional Owner Corporations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, First Peoples’ tourism operators
- Tourism-related businesses, such as accommodation and hospitality providers, attractions and tour operators
- Local/regional and sector tourism associations
- Local/regional community organisations
- Alpine Resort Management Boards
- The following entities are ineligible partner organisations:
- Visit Victoria
- Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
Additional requirements – all applicants must:
- Have an operating business address in Victoria
- Demonstrate that the application project and activities proposed will be conducted in Victoria
- Hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in Victoria and have held that ABN on and from 1 July 2022. Businesses that backdate their ABN registration or re-activate an ABN after 1 July 2022 will not be eligible.
- Where required, be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) prior to application to the Program
For further details on project eligibility please refer to the program guidelines.
Grant amount
Subject to meeting the Program eligibility criteria, applicants could apply for funding under the following streams:
- Stream A: up to $50,000 (excl. GST) for the creation or updating of visitor servicing strategies
- Stream B: between $50,001 and $625,000 (excl. GST) to support the delivery of major visitor servicing projects.
How to apply
- Stream A applications are now closed.
- Stream B applications are now closed.
Program guidelines
Visitor Servicing Fund – Program guidelines (PDF 546.27 KB) 
Visitor Servicing Fund – Program guidelines (DOCX 65.08 KB) 
