The Morrison Government has today announced $20,000 and $30,000 in funding for the Welcome to the Snowy Mountains 2021 Concert and The Tilba Festival 2021 respectively, to boost domestic visitors in Eden-Monaro and support the region in response to the summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to the Snowy Mountains 2021 Concert and The Tilba Festival 2021 are two of ten projects sharing in $245,000 in funding under the $10 million Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants for projects and events in fire-affected regions in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
This is the second round of funding under the grants program, following $580,000 of funding announced for 24 events and projects in June. The grants program is part of a $76 million tourism bushfire recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies.
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said “The 2021 Jindabyne concert is part of Flowing Festival, a two-day event to be held adjacent to and on Lake Jindabyne, in Banjo Paterson Park. It will feature dragon boat racing, community concert, food and drink stalls, carnival rides and market stalls.”
“The Tilba Festival has been operating for 35 years. It is held at the main street of Central Tilba on an Easter Saturday providing a day of entertainment. It features family activities,
live music, street performers, street games with prizes, arts and crafts, maker demonstrations, market stalls, food & drink stalls, buskers, street theatre and a reptile awareness show. The Tilba Festival is a major tourist attraction for the region. On average, it attracts 10,000 visitors.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Jonno Duniam said the events, including a vintage motoring run, art trail, cycling event, concert and food festival, would assist in boosting the number of domestic visitors to our regional areas when the time was right.
“With restrictions easing in some states and planning for events starting again, it’s great to be able to announce the latest round of grants that will help to breathe life back into our regional tourism industry,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“These community events and projects are all about encouraging Australians back into our regions, to keep struggling tourism businesses alive by putting dollars back into the hands of local vendors and operators.
“Each year, Australia attracts close to nine million international arrivals and with no immediate return to international travel in sight, it’s more important than ever that Australians support regional tourism and enjoy the best of what we have in our own backyard.
“This year has been as tough as it gets for so many of our regional communities that have been hit hard by the combined impact of bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is not only an opportunity to give visitors a new reason visit our regions, it is an important chance for communities to come together and focus on something positive and to celebrate what’s unique about their region.
“I’m urging all Aussies to consider taking a holiday right here, when it’s safe to do so – you’ll be doing yourself and the locals a huge favour.”
For further information on the RTBR grants program visit: www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Tourism/Tourism-and-business/Grants/regional-tourism-bushfire-recovery-grants