Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher have welcomed today's announcement that Regional Express (Rex) will launch a range of new passenger services connecting Mildura with Adelaide, Sydney and Broken Hill.

Discounts at Victorian tourism attractions, a specially designed wallet by Melbourne's leading cartoonist Mark Knight, a transport map and a myki ready for travel will provide visitors to Melbourne with easy access to public transport and popular city sites.

Melbourne has officially been recognised as the number one city in Australia for conferences and congresses, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced today.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced today that boosting the local tourism industry will be a key focus of the Victorian Coalition Government's trade mission to South Korea this week, led by Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade Richard Dalla-Riva.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher and Minister for Public Transport and Roads Terry Mulder have today announced that Melbourne has won the right to host the prestigious Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress in October 2016.

The Melbourne Writers' Festival has received funding of $12,500 from the Victorian Coalition Government to attract more visitors to the annual celebration of literary arts.

The Victorian Coalition Government announced today $22,500 in funding to attract more interstate visitors to one of the country's leading events for independent artists, the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Premier Ted Baillieu today announced Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Ambassador Vidya Balan will be in Melbourne on 11 and 12 May to promote the forthcoming festival.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced that the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference 2013 (WorldMUN), one of the world's largest student-led international meetings, will be held in Melbourne next year.

The Victorian Coalition Government today announced new funding of $4.4 million for Puffing Billy to upgrade priority railway infrastructure and enhance rail safety over the next four years.

The latest series of the TV ratings hit MasterChef will begin in Melbourne next Sunday night, showcasing the best of Victoria.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced $52,500 in Victorian Coalition Government funding for the 2012 National Celtic Festival.

Regional Victoria is set to benefit from a boost to the local tourism industry with the Victorian Coalition Government's announcement of $25,000 to support three cycling tours under Tourism Victoria's Events Program.

The 2012 Mildura Country Music Festival has received funding to the tune of $27,500 from the Victorian Coalition Government to promote the annual celebration of independent country music.

Melbourne has won the rights to host the International Sailing Federation Sailing World Cup until 2016, Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher and Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty announced today.

The Victorian Coalition Government has delivered another boost to regional tourism with the 2012 Victoria Futurity event to receive funding of $13,500 as part of the Tourism Victoria Events Program.

Victoria's latest tourism marketing campaign Play Melbourne has been a success interstate, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said today.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced another significant scientific conference has been won for Melbourne, further enhancing the city as the business events capital of Australia.

The number of cruise lines to base their ships in Melbourne is set to double in the next cruise ship season, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced today as she welcomed the arrival of the largest ever cruise ship to visit Melbourne.

The 2014 Australasian Police and Emergency Services (AP&ES) Games in Melbourne has received a funding boost of $10,000 from the Victorian Coalition Government in a bid to attract more competitors and spectators to Victoria.