Deadline: 11-Aug-21
The NSW Government is currently accepting applications for the Regional Tourism Activation Fund to accelerate the development of new and existing tourism infrastructure providing visitors with unique and high impact experiences while visiting regional NSW.
The Fund will focus on projects that increase visitation, expenditure and length of stay in regional NSW. The funding will also provide support to projects that improve accessibility and inclusion and enhance the visitor experience for people with disability.
Objectives
The objective of the Regional Tourism Activation Fund is to support the development of unique and high impact tourism and events infrastructure that helps to boost local economies, create jobs and ensure visitors to regional NSW have unforgettable experiences that encourage repeat visitation.
The key objectives of this fund are to:
- accelerate the development of unique and high impact tourism and events infrastructure
- boost the visitor economy in regional NSW by creating desirable experiences that encourage people to plan and book holidays to regional areas
- improve the visitor experience and accessibility and inclusion for people with disability and accessibility requirements
- increase expenditure and create new jobs in the tourism sector across regional NSW.
The objectives of the fund are aligned to strategic pillars three and five of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 by showcasing the strengths of regional NSW and facilitating growth and diversification of the visitor economy.
The fund is also aligned to the 20-year Economic Vision for Regional NSW, the NSW Destination Management Plan, the NSW South Coast Marine Tourism Strategy and the NSW Cruise Development Plan.
Funding Streams
The $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund will be available through two funding streams:
- Stream One – Unique and high impact visitor experiences – Funding available: minimum $200,000 up to a maximum of $5 million: This funding stream aims to accelerate the delivery of new tourism infrastructure projects that will strengthen the local tourism industry and deliver economic benefits in regional NSW. The funding will invest in projects that create unique and high impact visitor experiences for people visiting regional NSW and encourage more people to plan and book holidays in regional areas.
- Stream Two – Visitor accessibility and inclusion enhancements – Funding available: minimum $50,000 up to a maximum of $500,000: Funding under this stream aims to encourage inclusive tourism by improving accessibility and inclusion at destinations and visitor experiences for people with disability. The funding will have a specific focus on projects that improve accessibility and inclusion at unique and high impact tourism venues and destinations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be an incorporated entity and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN) or be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or another Act. Unincorporated organisations are ineligible to apply.
- Eligible applicants include:
- councils and Joint Organisations
- non-government organisations
- community organisations registered as incorporated associations
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
- Applicants are encouraged to work with private operators and industry organisations to identify potential projects. Public/private partnerships are eligible to apply where the lead applicant is an eligible public entity and clear public benefit can be demonstrated. The public entity will be solely responsible for the project’s delivery and reporting through a funding deed.
- Projects that are developed and delivered in partnership with a NSW Government agency such as NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service or Forestry Corporation of NSW are eligible where the lead applicant is one of the entities listed as an eligible applicant.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3ws4suF