Holidaymakers hoping to snap up one of the Victorian government's $200 regional tourism vouchers have been left disappointed after the website crashed within minutes of its launch.
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The state government opened registration for 40,000 travel vouchers online at 10am on Friday but the Business Victoria website was replaced with a white page reading "Internal server error".
"Business Victoria is experiencing heavy demand for regional travel vouchers, which has resulted in the application back going offline," a spokesman said in a statement.
"Business Victoria is working to resolve this issue."
Under the program, travellers will be reimbursed $200 if they spend at least $400 on accommodation, tours or experiences in regional areas of the state.
Tourism Minister Martin Pakula expects the scheme to be very popular, especially the first stage for travel between December 12 and January 22.
"I would expect demand to potentially outstrip supply, that's been experienced in other parts of the country," he said on Thursday ahead of the launch.
For those who miss out, there will be another 80,000 vouchers - plus any that are not used - in the second release on January 20 and the third on March 30.
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Eligible destinations include the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and the Bellarine, while households can apply even if their travel has already been booked.
The $28 million travel voucher scheme is part of a $300 million tourism package announced in the state budget in November.
"If those $200 vouchers mean that people stay an extra night, maybe go to a local pub or restaurant. That's all about wages and spending and investment," Premier Daniel Andrews said.
It comes as Victoria reaches 42 days without a coronavirus case, following 9760 tests on Thursday.
No one in hotel quarantine has tested positive since international flights returned to the state earlier this week.
According to the state government, there are 571 international arrivals in staying at quarantine hotels, including 44 people with symptoms or complex health needs at the Novotel "hot hotel" in South Wharf.
Some 220 returned travellers are due to arrive on Friday.
