By Robert Upe
Myki is to become the only ticketing option on Melbourne's public transport, as paper tickets are phased out.
A myki visitor pack that includes a ready-to-use card, a map of Melbourne and about $140 of discounts to the city's major attractions has been welcomed by the tourism industry.
The pack, announced by the state government yesterday, will be available from July 1. It will cost $14 and will include $8 of myki money, enough for a day of travel in zone one. A concession visitor pack (general concession, child and seniors) will be $7 and will include $4 of myki money. Simple top-up instructions will be included.
''It's good for visitors and good for Melbourne,'' said Chris Buckingham, the chief executive of Destination Melbourne.
John Lee, the chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said the pack would simplify travel for tourists in Melbourne, taking the guesswork out of fares.
"With all-day travel and discounts at leading Melbourne attractions for less than the price of a movie ticket, this is a truly innovative approach which offers exceptional value to visitors and should be replicated in other states," he said.
The pack was launched yesterday by the Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder and the Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher.
Mr Mulder said the discounts - ranging from two-for-one offers to 20 per cent off entry prices - at attractions such as Eureka Skydeck, Melbourne Aquarium and Cooks' Cottage - will be reviewed.
He said discounts to country attractions will be introduced when myki is rolled out to regional Victoria next year.
Mr Mulder admitted that short-term visitors who want to make one trip and not be part of the ''tourist experience'' will have to purchase a standard myki ($6 plus a top-up to cover fares). ''It's no different if you go to London, you buy an Oyster card over there, I think it's £3.''
Mr Mulder said 71 per cent of people travelling on public transport are now using myki. ''Last month we sold about 160,000 myki cards, in the last week we have sold 43,000. People are voting with their feet, there's a lot more confidence out there using myki.''
Dianne Smith, the chief executive of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council welcomed the visitor pack.
She said it would help visitors to easily navigate the city and suburbs, and help to drive visitors to Victoria's tourist attractions and experiences.
The visitor packs will be sold at 300 locations including airports, hotels, tourist information centres and Southern Cross Station. There are about 20 million visitors to Melbourne each year. Ms Asher said the tourism industry in Victoria is worth $15.2 billion annually.
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