Victorian Tourism Industry Council warns of losing tourism dollars to NSW & QLD

Melbourne Flinders Street Train Station in Australia at sunset
Edited by Travel Weekly


The Victorian Government has been urged to invest in tourism by relaunching the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and dropping taxes among other measures by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) to prevent losing money to other states.

In a priorities submission ahead of the May state budget, the VTIC said that despite $38b flowing into the state’s economy in 2023, the government must act now to drive demand and prevent leaking dollars to rival states NSW and Queensland.

Currently, NSW reeled in the most tourism spend with $51b last year with Queensland seeing $41b and the chief executive of VTIC, Felicia Mariani hopes to see $16b growth (to $53b) by 2028.

“We now sit at $37.8bn in total spend from visitors to our state; it is an achievement we should be proud of, but the job is not done and Victoria cannot afford to take its foot off the pedal,” she said.

“Visit Victoria needs to be funded more than one year at a time to go out confidently, engage in contracts and undertake promotional activities”

One key sticking point for the VTIC is the 7.5 per cent tax on short-stay properties on platforms like Airbnb, particularly in the regions.

“The short-stay accommodation tax has been put into place, supposedly to try and encourage people to move their properties from short stay to longer-term rentals,” Mariani continued.

“The reality is, this tax is not going to achieve that outcome. The owners are just going to pass the tax on to customers,” which she says would affect ­regional Victoria where tourism was already “softening”.

The submission also reiterated the importance of accessibility and called for $50m to build a train station at Avalon Airport to promote more travel to the under-utilised flight hub.

Latest News

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]

  • Cruise

MSC Cruises announces MSC World Asia Webinar

MSC Cruises has announced a webinar series tailored for travel partners focusing on MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC World Asia, set to launch in 2026. The webinar is scheduled over two sessions on Wednesday 12 February 2025. Bronwyn Knight, MSC Cruises NSW/QLD/ACT BDM, will host an 8:30am (AEST) session while Aaron Eilers, MSC Cruises Queensland BDM, […]

  • Tour Operators

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge celebrates 25th anniversary with new adventures

Baillie Lodges has announced that it is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge with a range of new helicopter experiences for the 2025 season. Kicking off on 22 May, the 2025 season promises five months of generously inclusive luxury adventures for guests in nature’s own playground where black bears forage shoreside, whales, […]

  • Events

Longitude 131° reveals dates for 2025 Artists-in-Residence with Ernabella Arts

Longitude 131° at Uluru-Kata Tjuta has announced the 2025 dates for its popular Artists-in-Residence program in partnership with First Nations Anangu artists at Ernabella Arts. Longitude 131° holds a privileged, long-term working partnership with the team at Ernabella Arts, which includes commissioning artworks and ceramics, providing funding support for a ceramics tutor, the Artists-in-Residence program […]

  • Hotels
  • Luxury

Global celebrates balmy aperitivo night in Melbourne with Leading Hotels of the World

Global International Travel partnered with Leading Hotels of the World to welcome clients to a season opening “Inizio di Stagione Aperitivo”, a cocktail evening designed to evoke the charm of a Roman rooftop at its Melbourne HQ. Dedicated to celebrating Global’s esteemed clientele, the evening showcased the privileges offered through its VITA Partnership with Leading […]

  • Destinations
  • Events

Outback Queensland presents Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail – The Diamantina

Adventure seekers can set their sights on Outback Queensland with the month-long Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail – The Diamantina festival is set for 5 to 26 July. Whether cheering on the camels, dancing under the stunning desert sky, kicking up red dust, or soaking up the rich cameleer history, there’s something for every […]