Otago and Southland have received $350,000 from the Government’s Regional Tourism Boost fund to help attract Australian visitors.

The Regional Tourism Boost Fund is a contestable fund which provides $3 million to help regions to attract more international visitors and encourage international visitors to travel around the country.

Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said she was delighted that the south had secured the funding and was in no doubt that it would have benefits for economic growth.

“Tourism has consistently presented a golden opportunity for diversifying Southland's economy, with this funding support allowing further opportunities to promote our province and the Southern region across the Tasman."

“This funding will benefit local restaurants, cafés and bars, accommodation providers and tourism operators by attracting more international visitors here," Simmonds said.

Eight Regional Tourism Organisations, including Southland's Great South, will use the funds for their "The Southern Way" initiative.

The initiative aims to attract independent travellers, who travel in the off-peak or non-ski seasons, to explore the south from Southland and Fiordland to Queenstown, Wanaka, Central Otago, Dunedin and Waitaki.

“Those attractions specific to Southland, involve the Southern Scenic Route, including Purakaunui Falls and Curio Bay, as well as notable Invercargill sites, like Bill Richardson Transport World, the Classic Motorcycle Mecca, and Queens Park, along with Fiordland’s Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Te Anau’s Glow Worm Caves, " Simmonds said.

“The campaign is proposed to run from late April to July 2025.”