Victorians have soaked up the best the state has to offer as the spring school holidays wrap up, with the Andrews Labor Government’s popular dining and entertainment program making days and nights out more affordable.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll today confirmed there have been more than 700,000 successful claims for the Labor Government’s Dining and Entertainment Program – Eat. Play. Cash Back made in the past two weeks.

The program is putting $25 million back into people’s pockets and boosting thousands of hard-working businesses, with $19 million in claims already paid.

The cash back scheme has supported consumer spending on dining experiences worth more than $85 million across Victoria.

The local government areas of City of Melbourne, City of Monash and City of Moonee Valley take out the top three most popular areas for vouchers claimed with the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Ranges also a hit.

Families spent plenty of time enjoying the school holidays and AFL Grand Final long weekend festivities, making the most of the state’s world-class entertainment scene, with the Melbourne Royal Show, cinema trips, museums, and zoos among the most popular for claims.

Amusement park outings like Luna Park made up almost 20 percent of claims for entertainment while the theatre was also popular with 11 percent of claims used to snap up tickets for shows such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hamilton and Come From Away.

Dining out and take-away also was a hit with almost 80 percent of all claims so far spent on restaurants, pubs, cafes and winery experiences.

Almost 65 per cent of people who made a claim said they made their purchase because of the program or spent more than they otherwise would have.

The Dining and Entertainment Program is part of the Labor Government’s $200 million Victorian Business Stimulus Package supporting local businesses and jobs.

The Program allows customers to claim 25 per cent cash back when they spend $40 or more enjoying the best our state has to offer. Customers can claim up to $125 cash back each and make multiple claims until they reach the cap.

For more information, including how to claim, go to vic.gov.au/dining-entertainment.