The Daylesford Macedon Ranges Regional Tourism Board will incorporate the councils of Hepburn, Macedon, Moorabool and Hume.

The launch of the new board is planned for July.

Hepburn Shire chief executive officer Kaylene Conrick said it was difficult to overlook tourism as an important economic driver of the region.

As well as formalising the relationship with its neighbours, joining the board will give the shire access to State Government funding.

Tourism Victoria will contribute a minimum of $150,000 per annum in core funding to the board, as well as annual grants of approximately $300,000 to assist with marketing, industry development, events and product development.

In turn, Hepburn Shire and Macedon Ranges Shire will each contribute $75,000 per annum.

Moorabool and Hume will contribute $17,000 each.

Tourism Minister Tim Holding released the Tourism Action Plan in December 2008, which highlighted general frustration with the "structure" of tourism in regional areas.

Since then regional tourism boards have been established in Gippsland and the Grampians regions to provide a "consolidated strategic direction" of the tourism industry.