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Funding Support for Tourism Operators

Covid-19 Pandemic

Responding to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, MRBTA has focused on the urgent need to secure support for the region’s tourism experiences to survive in the absence of interstate and international visitation. Support for these businesses has been crucial to ensuring the region’s point of difference for high value travellers from returning markets.

MRBTA efforts have included:

  • Continued advocacy to Government to ensure MRBTA member businesses are found eligible for State/Federal Tourism Support Grants and Lockdown Assistance Grants.
  • Securing $125,000 Federal funds in conjunction with Australia’s South West (ASW) to prepare the region for interstate border reopening with the ‘Margaret River Region Interstate Market Drive Trails’ initiative (September 2021 – September 2022).
  • Leveraging the State Government’s $1million ‘Wander Out Yonder Voucher’ state-wide campaign for benefit of MRBTA members. $100k worth of itineraries was generated through MRBTA visitor servicing channels alone (September – December 2020).
  • Securing $250,000 in conjunction with ASW for the ‘South West Wanderer Pass’ voucher program (July 2021 – August 2022).
  • Leveraging the State Government’s ‘Half Off, Full Adventures‘ state-wide campaign for benefit of MRBTA members (April 2022).

Bushfire Recovery

Following the bushfire activity which occurred in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in December 2021, together with Australia’s South West and Tourism WA, MRBTA worked with affected businesses and met with the (then) Minister for Tourism, the Hon. David Templeman, and Local Member for Warren-Blackwood, Jane Kelsbie  to share impact statements and discuss avenues of support. Six MRBTA member businesses subsequently received support from the State Government Bushfire Support Program, for tourism operators impacted by the bushfires.