Every adult in New South Wales will soon receive a $50 ‘Stay and Rediscover’ voucher to put towards accommodation and domestic travel. The new accommodation vouchers were unveiled as part of a $530 million investment package outlined on Wednesday that aims to help the ailing tourism and events sectors as they emerge from a lengthy shutdown. State Premier Dominic Perrottet said adding extra financial support was a critical move set to “supercharge” providers.
“Millions of people around the world dream of visiting Sydney and our regional areas. This package not only ensures they can, but that they’ll experience the very best of what we have to offer,” Premier Perrottet said. “It’s also great news for people right across our state, reviving events and businesses and bringing our major drawcards back to life. Importantly, more than 300,000 people rely on our tourism industry and our aim is to reclaim our position as one of the world’s favourite destinations.”
Image: Pier One Sydney
What are Stay and Rediscover Vouchers?
For NSW residents planning a local getaway, it’s a major boost. As part of the $250 million investment for the expanded Stay & Rediscover scheme, all NSW adults will score a $50 voucher to redeem at accommodation premises across the state. NSW residents aged 18 and over will be able to apply for $50 voucher to use towards the cost of accommodation bookings.
When Can You Get Them?
The tourism program is being piloted, with the NSW Government confirming that while vouchers are not currently available, NSW residents aged 18 and over can apply from March 2022.
“Before Stay & Rediscover opens up across the state, it will be piloted with a small number of invited participants in the City of Sydney local government area,” the government site states. “Eligible accommodation providers with a physical location in the City of Sydney local government area can register for Stay & Rediscover now.”
Where are Stay and Rediscover Vouchers Valid?
Importantly, the new NSW Stay and Rediscover vouchers will be valid to redeem at accommodation premises across the state. Eligible accommodation providers with a physical location in the City of Sydney local government area can register for Stay & Rediscover now, while wider areas will be able to register early in 2022. Treasurer Matt Kean also revealed $10 million for a Recovery Marketing Campaign including an extension of the successful roadtrips campaign launched in 2020.
“We know NSW is the best place to live, work, learn and play, but this is about bringing visitors back, boosting business and serving up the best of what NSW has to offer to the world,” Kean said. “We want to support citizens to get out and explore their own backyard, give our events sector the confidence to get back to business and send the signal to the airline industry that NSW is and always will be Australia’s gateway to the world.”
How Do You Get Them?
The tourism program is being piloted and will roll out statewide in March, with the vouchers available in the Service NSW app, similar to the previous ‘Dine and Discover’ incentives.
The successful initiative also copped a renewed boost, with the government announcing last week residents would receive two additional $25 Dine and Discover vouchers. Once again, these vouchers are to be used towards hospitality and entertainment and are valid until June 2022.
Tourism minister Stuart Ayres also announced $150 million to support the recovery of major event activity across the state including $50 million for a Regional Events Package to support major events, festivals, agricultural shows and community events across the regions.
“This was a one in one hundred year event which severely damaged our tourism industry, operators barely hung in there as they lost bookings, customers and staff, now as we rebuild we can do so with confidence,” Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said. “For our visitor economy to reach its full potential we need event owners to dream big, airlines to fly in and for locals and visitors to embrace our world-class venues and hospitality with enthusiasm once again.”
The new support package comes as NSW reported 283 new local cases of COVID 19 and seven deaths, a number that is falling quickly. According to the latest figures, up to 81.6 per cent of the state’s over 16 population are fully vaccinated, with 75.4 per cent of 12-to-15-year-olds having had one dose. As outlined by the state government, travel for holidays and recreation between Sydney and the regions will resume for those fully vaccinated from November 1.
General FAQs
Similar to the Dine and Discover vouchers, the Stay and Rediscover vouchers see all NSW adults scoring a $50 voucher to redeem at accommodation premises across the state. NSW residents aged 18 and over will be able to apply for $50 voucher to use towards the cost of accommodation bookings.
The Stay and Rediscover tourism program is being piloted, with the NSW Government confirming that while vouchers are not currently available, NSW residents aged 18 and over can apply from March 2022.
The Stay and Rediscover vouchers will be available in the Service NSW app, similar to the previous 'Dine and Discover' incentives.
