Deadline: 19-Jul-23
The Northern Territory Government is providing $3 million of grant funding through a further round of the Visitor Experience Enhancement Program (VEEP), to assist the tourism industry undertake projects that will improve the on-ground visitor experience in the NT.
The VEEP seeks to enable the tourism industry to improve its customer experience through product enhancements, generating positive promotion for the Territory.
Successful projects must:
- be strategic in nature by delivering benefits to an individual business, multiple businesses or to a region and aligned to the relevant Destination Management Plan, NT Drive Tourism Strategy, NT Cruise Tourism Strategy, Long-Term Business Events Strategy, NT Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2030, NT’s Tourism Industry Strategy 2030, NT Parks Masterplan 2023-2053 or the short-stay accommodation market analysis reports for Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek
- demonstrate how the proposal will enhance the visitor experience and increase favourable visitor feedback. This can include improved sustainability or accessibility features, safety upgrades for customers and/or staff, and new product innovation
- provide an itemised project budget accompanied by quotes from NT suppliers. Applications without accompanying budget and quotes will not be considered. Quotes and invoices from family or other registered businesses aligned to the applicant will not be accepted
- include at a minimum a matching cash cocontribution. This means if you are requesting a $40,000 grant then you need to provide a minimum further $40,000 in cash towards the nominated project. Projects with a larger Return on Investment (ROI) than 1:1 will be regarded highly by the panel. Please note that in-kind contributions are not considered towards matching funds.
Funding Information
- VEEP round 7 has a budget allocation of $3 million.
- One off funding up to $100,000 (excluding GST) is available per business.
- Priority will be given to:
- applications who have clearly demonstrated alignment with the relevant strategies, plans and reports
- projects which demonstrate the greatest need for visitor enhancement as supported by evidence
- projects that have a particular focus on accessibility and sustainability improvements
- projects that have a ROI greater than 1:1.
- Applications under this program will be considered with reference to other NT Government funding which you may have accessed or be qualified for.
- Applicants should provide evidence that local NT suppliers and local content will be used to deliver the project. If NT suppliers are not available, justification for consideration of interstate suppliers detailing attempts to secure Territory suppliers must be clearly demonstrated.
- Applications will not be accepted where an applicant has not fully acquitted or met funding agreement obligations from any previous funding from Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade including Tourism NT. Specifically, applications will not be accepted where an applicant has an outstanding project funded under previous VEEP or Roadhouse to Recovery rounds.
Eligible Projects and Activities
- As a guide only, examples of projects may include (but are not limited to):
- Infrastructure upgrades to address shortcomings in the existing tourism visitor experience (e.g. new walking trails, upgraded or additional visitor accommodation, upgraded reception areas or foyers, retrofitting existing tour buses or cruise vessels).
- Implementation of new equipment and/ or technology to enhance a tourism retail experience, allowing a greater visitor spend and extending a stay in the region.
- Implementation of new technology to improve the on-ground tourism visitor experience in the NT.
- Development of tourism visitor experiences that diversify the tourism offering in the region based on customer feedback.
- Upgrades to infrastructure or product that improves safety for customers or staff.
- Applications that can demonstrate improved disability access i.e. access ramps, accessible bathrooms, audio tours, vehicle modifications.
- Tourism offerings and/or products that contribute to the conservation of the Territory’s natural and cultural values through enhanced sustainability.
Eligibility Criteria
- This program is designed to support Territory tourism business enterprises. To be supported through this program, businesses must:
- be a Territory enterprise with a significant Northern Territory tourism focus
- be Australian registered
- have a current Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing or have applied for one at time of application
- be a member of peak industry body, e.g. Tourism Top End, Tourism Central Australia or Hospitality NT
- have an online booking system or have applied for one at time of submitting the grant application
- currently operate in the NT and employ resident Territorians.
- Local Government, for profit and not for profit organisations are eligible to apply. Agencies of the NT Government and Regional Tourism Organisations are not eligible to apply.
Ineligible Activities
- Applications will not be accepted for:
- the purchase or lease of mobile/ portable assets including, but not limited to, computers (e.g. desktops or laptops), televisions, motor vehicles (e.g. cars, buses or motorcycles), and boats
- activities that have commenced before the grant has been approved
- upgrading or developing facilities predominantly for local community use or where there is no clearly defined visitor benefit
- marketing, advertising and product promotion activities
- regular repairs and maintenance
- administrative or running costs that are normally the responsibility of a business (e.g. rent, insurances, auditing and finance costs etc.), state or territory administration or local council
- wages or salaries for an applicant’s employees
- training costs for implementation of new technology
- purchase or lease of real estate of any type. Please take care to ensure ineligible activities are not included in any application as this will preclude further consideration.
For more information, visit VEEP.