Wineries, breweries and distilleries across Australia have been promised a $15m investment by the Federal Government to help upgrade cellar door facilities.
The investment will provide up to $100,000 in matched funding for small to medium-sized operators for the construction or upgrade of cellar doors or tourism-associated facilities (excluding accommodation), such as restaurants, tour facilities and viewing platforms.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “We’re opening Australia’s cellar doors to the world for more of our wine, spirit and craft beer producers.
“A strong tourism industry means a strong economy.
“Tourism is key to our plan and this funding will help bring in more tourists to local businesses, meaning more people touring our breweries and wineries, more people buying products and ultimately businesses employing more people.
“Australia is a global tourism leader for our beaches, parks, wildlife, Indigenous culture and our cities, and there are huge opportunities for our wineries and distilleries to take advantage of the planeloads of tourists looking for a new experience as we emerge from COVID lockdowns.”
In addition to the $15m investment, a further $5m will be provided through the Wine, Spirits and Craft Breweries Tourism Events program to provide up to $100,000 to tourism and local government organisations to create new events and experiences to attract tourists and showcase wineries, distilleries and craft beer makers.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said: “Our long-term plan to grow and strengthen the tourism sector puts modernisation, diversification and collaboration at its core.
“More than 60 per cent of distilleries are in rural and regional Australia and Australian wineries spread across 65 regions, so these programs will support regional Australia to diversify their tourism offerings, which is a key plank of our long-term tourism strategy.”