A NEW $32,000 marketing campaign has been launched to lure visitors from Victoria into Bass Strait for an autumn getaway on Flinders Island.

It is the first time Flinders has been the sole focus of a TV ad campaign, which is designed boost visitor numbers during the traditional autumn-winter lull.

The three-week campaign is a joint venture between Tourism Tasmania, Sharp Airlines, the Flinders Island Tourism Association and the local council.

The “Experience the Good Life” ad is short but shows off some of the amazing scenery, recreational activities and food options the biggest island of the Furneaux Group has to offer.

The campaign will air on WIN and Southern Cross networks in regional Victoria .

The last survey on tourism numbers on Flinders Island — conducted for the year ending in June 2009 — shows the island had just under 5000 visitors in that year.

Sharp Airlines took over regular passenger routes to Flinders from Tasmania and Victoria two years ago and a new survey is being conducted to see if visitor numbers have increased since then.

The airline will be offering special promotional airfares of about $145 one-way to back up the campaign, with local tourist operators also spruiking special deals. It normally costs about $234 to fly from Melbourne to Whitemark, on Flinders Island, and about $174 one-way from Launceston.

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon said the promotional push would be supplemented with electronic direct mail and other social media activities.

Mr Bacon said the success of tourism on any island, including Flinders, hinged on the success of its carriers.

“That is why Tourism Tasmania works alongside our various carrriers, including Sharp Airlines, on joint marketing activities to stimulate bookings and sales.”

Flinders Island Tourism Association president Michael Buck said he expected the campaign to deliver more tourists and spark more co-operative marketing ventures in the future.