Tourism North East has secured a major three-year funding deal of $225,000 from Visit Victoria’s Regional Events Fund.

Underscoring the importance to the regional visitor economy of the food, wine and craft beer sector, Visit Victoria confirmed it will commit $75k per year across three years to support and further develop the High Country Harvest event.

Tourism North East applied for the ongoing funding from the Regional Events Fund with a view to building on the successful High Country Harvest partnering program developed with the MoVida group in 2017. This provided TNE with access to the partner’s promotional networks as well as a platform from which to showcase the amazing produce of the High Country to the lifestyle leader market in Melbourne.

The new funding stream will also enable TNE to develop a dynamic and integrated marketing campaign which will also include a Melbourne-based High Country Harvest event.

This year’s High Country Harvest, in its sixth year, is from 4-20 May. It features a 17-day program of 50 plus bespoke events that celebrate collaboration and innovation and offers regional visitors the opportunity to sample outstanding local produce and products and meet the personalities behind the scenes who grow, make and create it.

The festival plays a key role in driving visitation, yield and dispersal throughout the region during a traditionally quiet period. The 2017 event alone attracted more than 7000 visitors who generated an impressive $2.69million in direct spend to the local economy.

High Country Harvest goes live on 1 March - highcountryharvest.com.au