Thousands of Tasmanian families will be able to eat out and experience the very best of Tasmania with the return of the Eat Local Stay Local voucher scheme.
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said the scheme will give Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality industry a valuable boost while also helping families with the cost of going out.
“The Eat Local Stay Local initiative was announced by the Tasmanian Government in May, with the aim of stimulating the tourism and hospitality sector by helping people get away for a short break or out for a nice meal,” Minister Howlett said.
The program, which was initially scheduled to launch during winter, faced delays when the Tasmanian government entered caretaker mode following a vote of no confidence that triggered an early state election.
“While the scheme originally allocated $10 million for 100,000 vouchers to be spent at Tasmanian businesses, this has been scaled back to reflect the need for budget repair, while still continuing to provide an important stimulus for the local visitor economy,” the Minister explained.
The revised scheme will now issue nearly 60,000 vouchers, valued at $100 each, to Tasmanians for redemption on eligible accommodation, hospitality, and visitor experiences.
“This means successful Tasmanians will be able to enjoy a special dining experience, or a short getaway, and we will cover part of the costs,” Minister Howlett said.
The successful recipients will be notified by email in the coming week, and vouchers must be used by 30 November 2025.
Minister Howlett emphasised that previous voucher schemes had generated significant economic activity in small businesses and regional communities.
“For every dollar spent in the state’s tourism and hospitality sector, another 83 cents is generated in Tasmania’s economy,” she said.
The Eat Local Stay Local program complements other visitor economy initiatives like the Tasmanian Government’s Spirit of Tasmania Free Car Fare initiative, which aims to bring more interstate visitors into Tasmania to stay longer and spend more.
“The Eat Local Stay Local campaign is also about stimulating the visitor economy at a time that is usually quieter in Tasmania,” Minister Howlett concluded.
