Premier Ted Baillieu and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today highlighted Melbourne as a top tourist destination for Indian travellers at the debut of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in Mumbai.

The Victorian Coalition Government is working to increase the profile of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in India as part of the Super Trade Mission, in a bid to attract more Indian tourists to Australia's premier thoroughbred racing, social and cultural event.

Victoria is set to gain further momentum as a leading international tourism destination with the launch today of two new tourism marketing initiatives for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf countries.

Melbourne has been ranked fourth in the world in the first global grading of major international student cities by the London-based QS organisation, an international ranking organisation for universities.

Regional Victoria is set to gain further momentum as a premium cycling destination with a funding boost of $12,500 from the Victorian Coalition Government for three endurance events to be held later this year.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher is encouraging food and wine connoisseurs to visit Victoria's High Country to experience a new food and wine event, supported with Victorian Coalition Government funding of $50,000.

Royal Brunei Airlines will increase its direct flights between the Brunei capital and Melbourne to a daily service; a further sign of Victoria's strength as an aviation and tourism hub in Australia, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced today.

The Victorian Coalition Government has launched the next phase of Tourism Victoria's Jigsaw campaign Play Melbourne in New Zealand, aimed at attracting even more New Zealand visitors to the exciting city of Melbourne.

Victoria's High Country and Yarra Valley will feature in a national television series as part of Tourism Australia's No Leave No Life initiative, which is supported by Tourism Victoria.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced that eight major congresses have been won for Melbourne, worth an estimated $23.5 million to the Victorian economy.

The Coalition Government has introduced a new innovative iPhone application (app) to help both visitors and locals explore Melbourne, the nation's most preferred tourist destination and recently voted 'Best City' by Australian Traveller magazine.

One of Victoria's premier gourmet food and wine producing regions is set to benefit from funding from the Victorian Coalition Government's $2.5 million Tourism Flood Recovery Program.

Echuca's Riverboats Music Festival and Southern 80 ski race are among five regional events to receive funding from the Victorian Coalition Government's $2.5 million Tourism Flood Recovery Program, which will showcase the region as a key tourist destination.

Victoria's major events success has taken on a golden glow with final figures showing Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs has smashed box office records for touring exhibitions in Australia.

Melbourne has again proven it is the best, this time voted as Australia's best city by readers of a popular travel magazine.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced that Melbourne has secured the right to host the prestigious International AIDS Conference in 2014, the largest medical conference ever to be held in Australia.

The unique culture of regional Victoria's most picturesque towns is being celebrated with the expansion of the successful Villages of Victoria program, with more than a dozen new towns and villages to be included in the marketing campaign.

A signature dish cooking competition and a free folk festival are among five regional events across Gippsland to receive funding from the Victorian Coalition Government.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher today announced the highly successful Melbourne Art Fair has received $50,000 in Victorian Coalition Government funding to help market the 2012 event across Australia and New Zealand.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced that Ogilvy & Mather has been selected as Tourism Victoria's partner agency to develop a major Chinese tourism campaign to attract more Chinese visitors to Victoria.