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Regional Tourism Activation Fund

The Regional Tourism Activation Fund is accelerating the development of new and enhanced tourism infrastructure across regional NSW.

Key information

• Status: Closed
• Grant amount: From $500,000 to $20,000,000
• Application opened: 2 August 2022
• Application closed: 27 September 2022, 5:00 pm

Program objective

Regional tourism activation fund – round 2    .

The $150 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund - Round 2 supports the development of high impact tourism infrastructure projects that increase visitation, expenditure and extend length of stay for visitors to regional NSW.

Round 2 is focused on accelerating the development of high impact tourism and events infrastructure that will increase the international appeal of destinations in regional NSW and boost the visitor economy through increased visitation and job creation. The Fund aims to support projects that are accessible and inclusive for everyone and ensure all visitors to regional NSW have unforgettable experiences that encourage repeat visitation.

This program is funded and administered by Department of Regional NSW.

Eligibility

Who can apply.

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. 

Eligible applicants include:

• Local councils
• Joint organisations of councils, or council groupings and associations
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations
• Community organisations registered as incorporated associations
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 .

Who can’t apply

Unincorporated organisations are ineligible to apply. 

Further information about the eligibility criteria can be found within the program guidelines (PDF 3.85MB) .

The Regional Tourism Activation Fund is for high-impact tourism infrastructure projects that have the potential to become iconic visitor experiences for regional NSW.

Examples of eligible project types include:

Nature-based tourism

• iconic walking and hiking trails
• aquatic and coastal projects such as over-water walkways and major viewing platforms
• adventure cycling such as mountain bike and BMX trails
• adventure trails that cover land and water experiences.

Arts, culture and events infrastructure

• Aboriginal tourism experiences
• major arts infrastructure
• cultural experiences including history and heritage projects
• major event and festival infrastructure
• major conference centre facilities.
• Costs that would be considered business-as-usual activities
• Core government activities or business operations and administrative running costs
• Projects or activities already funded by/receiving NSW Government funding, with the exception of new stages of a previously funded project or activity
• Marketing, advertising, or product promotion including signage, with the exception of promotional activities specifically related to the project and are essential to its success
• Engaging or paying permanent employees
• Activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other sources
• Financing costs, including interest and debt financing
• Capital expenditure for the purchase of everyday business activities such as office furniture and equipment, motor vehicles, computers, printers and photocopiers, with the exception of equipment specifically related to the project and essential to its success
• Costs involved in the purchase or upgrade/hire of software (including user licenses) and ICT hardware, with the exception of software specifically related to the project and essential to its success
• Costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the project
• Staff training and development costs not specifically related to the project
• Insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising as a result of their participation in funded activities)
• Costs related to obtaining human resources used on the project, including job advertising, recruiting, and contract negotiations
• Depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project
• Opportunity costs relating to allocating resources to the agreed grant project
• Projects that require ongoing grant funding from the NSW or Australian government
• Projects that will proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance
• Buying or upgrading equipment that is not fixed to a particular site, with the exception of equipment specifically related to the project and essential to its success
• Retrospective funding to cover any project component that is already complete before funding is announced.

Program guidelines

For more information about the Regional Tourism Activation Fund, including key dates, eligibility and merit-based assessment criteria, please refer to the program guidelines (PDF 3.85MB) .

Online Information Sessions

An Online Information Session covering the objectives of the Fund and the program guidelines was held on Tuesday 9 August. Please view the recording of this session here .

An Online Information Session has been provided to support and assist applicants with the datasheet. Please view the recorded  Online Information Session for the datasheet here .

Most recent recipients

What your application needs to include, prepare your application with this checklist.

Applicants are required to provide the following documentation:

• completed application form
• confirmation of the required co-contribution towards the project
• completed datasheet (template provided) with information such as the expected visitation, income streams, job creation and expenditure associated with the project
• evidence of at least $20 million in public liability insurance, or evidence that the applicant is willing to secure at least $20 million in public liability insurance if successful
• Project plan (template provided) that outlines the project delivery timeline
• evidence of experience delivering projects of similar size and scope, or demonstrated capability to deliver the project
• evidence of the readiness of the project, including the status of development applications (if applicable), costings and quotes from suppliers, landowner’s consent and construction approvals where required
• letters of support for the project.

Applications requesting over $5 million will be required to submit a business case as an attachment to their application and are encouraged to utilise the business case template provided.

Resources for applicants

The following resources are available to support applicants with their submissions:

• Datasheet template (XLSX 94.23KB)
• Project plan template (XLSX 26.52KB)
• Business case template (DOCX 4.35MB)
• Landowner consent form (DOCX 65.99KB)
• Sample funding deed (PDF 1001.04KB)

Address the eligibility criteria

All applications will be assessed for eligibility and only eligible applications will be considered for funding. 

Applications must be led by an eligible entity and projects must be located in one or more of the 93 regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Unincorporated Far West or Lord Howe Island. Projects located in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area, and the Newcastle and Wollongong LGAs are ineligible for funding.

Address the assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed against four merit-based assessment criteria.

• Criteria 1: Strategic alignment and visitor appeal
• Criteria 2: Economic outcomes
• Criteria 3: Deliverability and affordability
• Criteria 4: Accessibility, inclusion, and community

Further information about the merit-based assessment criteria can be found within the program guidelines (PDF 3.85MB) .

Start the application

Applications for the Regional Tourism Activation Fund must be submitted online into SmartyGrants.

After the application is submitted

Successful applicants will be notified confidentially from November 2022 or as soon as possible after an application is approved, at the NSW Government’s discretion. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application and will be offered a feedback session. 

Support and contact

Department of Regional NSW staff can provide support during the application process. Please contact us for a referral to your local Business Development Manager.

Phone:  1300 679 673

Email:  [email protected]

View  Frequently asked questions

Program evaluation

Round One of the Regional Tourism Activation Fund provided almost $30 million in funding to over 30 projects that support the development of unique and high impact tourism infrastructure and improve the accessibility of visitor experiences across regional NSW.

Please see the map below for more details on the successful projects.

Funding & Grants

Recording and touring grants.

Closes 17 April 2024

EV Charging Grants

Closes 2 August 2024

2024/25 Regional Event Fund

Closes 9 April 2024

Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Capacity Building Grants Round 1

Closes 28 March 2024

Telstra Connected Communities Program

Closes 27 March 2024

Qantas Regional Grants

Closes 10 May 2024

Vibrant Streets Package

Energy efficiency grants for small and medium sized enterprises.

Closes 8 April 2024

Open Streets Program

Closes 30 April 2024

2024 NAIDOC Local Grants

First nations tourism mentoring program, contemporary music tourism program, industry growth program.

Apply at any time

'Lights On - Doors Open' Stipend Program

On farm efficiency grants, on farm connectivity program.

Closes 31 May 2024

Regional Precincts and Partnership Program

Nsw government's grants & funding page.

Find a government initiative, grant or funding program to help support your business, your project or your community.

Administration System

TOURISM FUNDING PROGRAM 2021-22

Before proceeding with an application please read through all the information provided on our Tourism Funding page for the Fund you wish to apply for.

You can submit an application for the:

• Refresh and Renew Fund - grants of $30,000, with a $15,000 co-contribution, available for medium sized accommodation properties
• Experience Development Fund – grants of between $80,000 and $150,000, in matched dollar-for-dollar funding, for the creation of new tourism attractions or experiences

To be considered for funding, please  register  (or  login  if you have already registered) and complete the online form for the Fund you wish to apply to.

You can save as a draft, logout, login and edit your answers any time until you submit your form. Once you submit you will not be able to make any changes to your application.

Funding and Grants

Funding and grant applications.

Funding through grant programs can provide significant benefits to businesses and destinations, helping to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the visitor experience.

When applying for grants, there are several considerations to keep in mind:

• Eligibility: Before applying for a grant, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the grant program. Check the guidelines carefully to ensure that you are eligible to apply, and that your project fits within the scope of the grant program.
• Timing: Check the grant application deadline and plan to ensure you have enough time to prepare a quality application.
• Research: Research the grant program thoroughly, including the application process, assessment criteria, and funding priorities. Understand the goals of the grant program and how your project aligns with those goals.
• Project design: Develop a well-planned project that is clearly defined, feasible, and aligned with the objectives of the grant program. Ensure that the project can be delivered within the proposed timeline and budget.
• Project Alignment: Destination North Coast may be able to provide a Letter of Support for your project if it aligns with the North Coast Destination Management Plan 2022 – 2030 . Visitor economy projects should also align with the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 (VES ). 
• Budget and financials : Prepare a realistic budget that reflects the costs of the project and the funding requested from the grant program. Ensure that you have the financial management capacity to deliver the project and manage the grant funds effectively.
• Evaluation and reporting: Consider how you will evaluate the success of the project and report back to the grant program. Ensure that you have the capacity to collect data and report on the outcomes of the project in a timely and accurate manner.
• Compliance and governance : Understand the compliance requirements and governance expectations associated with the grant program. Ensure that your organisation has the appropriate policies and procedures in place to manage the grant funds and comply with reporting and accountability requirements.

Overall, careful planning, research, and attention to detail are key when applying for grants. By addressing these considerations, you can improve your chances of submitting a successful grant application that meets the needs of the grant program and delivers positive outcomes for your organisation and stakeholders.

Please complete this form to request a Letter of Support for your project.

For tips and guidance on writing grant applications check out our Tourism Grants Funding Webinar below. Whilst some of the information relates to the COVID pandemic, much applies to preparing, writing and acquitting general grant or funding applications.

Tourism Grants Funding

Destination North Coast hosted a Tourism Grants Funding Webinar to provide information to support industry stakeholders with grant funding planning, preparation and applications.

NSW Grants and Funding Finder

Search the NSW Grants and Funding Finder, a platform providing information on grants, savings, rebates and budget relief from 46 separate government websites.

Grants And Support For Tourism Businesses

Austrade maintains a list of current Grant and Funding opportunities for tourism businesses. Check back regularly.

DNSW Grants & Funding

Regional business event development fund.

Regional Tourism Activation Fund

The $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund will accelerate the development of new and enhanced tourism infrastructure across regional NSW.

Regional NSW is home to iconic tourist destinations and visitor attractions that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

People visiting these attractions spend important tourist dollars in local restaurants, cafes, shops and accommodation, boosting regional NSW economies and allowing money to flow into local communities.

The NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund supports 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 Regional Tourism Activation Fund is also aiming to boost regional tourism and improve the visitor experience for people with disability in regional NSW by making funding available for:

• the development of unique and high impact visitor experiences
• visitor accessibility and inclusion enhancements.

Types of projects eligible for funding include:

• construction of new tourism infrastructure and/or significant enhancements to existing infrastructure to create unique and high impact visitor experiences
• upgrades and extensions to existing infrastructure to improve accessibility and inclusion linked to unique and high impact visitor experiences.

Find out more

Recent articles

Recent Tweets

Boost for nature-based tourism operators across NSW

Tourism operators and businesses seeking to develop nature-based experiences may be eligible for a share in $3.5 million to support the creation and enhancement of tourism experiences. 

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is providing dollar-for-dollar matched grants from $100,000 up to $250,000 including tour, attraction and accommodation providers and landholders to fund eligible projects to grow the visitor economy.

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the Nature-Based Visitor Experience Development Grant program would enable the creation of new attractions or capacity to significantly grow existing offerings and drive visitation to local communities.

“This program allows tourism operators to expand or improve their business by creating a new nature experience, build viewing platforms, establishing infrastructure such as walkways or glamping accommodation, which will significantly drive visitation and inject more money into their local economy,” Mr Franklin said.

“Reconnecting with nature is one of the themes that sets NSW apart, with abundant opportunities for visitors to see our National Parks, enjoy the bush and outback stargazing, get up close with marine life or to experience walking, cycling and mountain biking trails.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is proud to work with industry stakeholders to grow our capability and visitor appeal, and shows our commitment to support new products and visitor experiences that showcase our State’s tourism strengths.

The program was developed in consultation with industry and in-line with NSW Government strategies, including the Destination Network Destination Management Plans, to address key opportunities and actions.

Applications for the grants will open in autumn via here . 

ALL ASSETS FROM THE DESTINATION NSW MEDIA CENTRE ARE FOR EDITORIAL USAGE ONLY AND MUST BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

For all non-editorial usage, please visit the Destination NSW Content Library .

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This access will help Destination NSW manage copyright owner rights, provide you with digital assets, keep you updated with new information and improve your user experience.

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Funding and Grants

Grant or funding opportunities may be available to support the development of your business, project or event.

Make sure you read the program guidelines, and entity and project eligibility carefully to ensure that your project meets the program criteria. Some grants are highly competitive with short application time frames. 

The grant and funding opportunities displayed on this page are NOT administered by Destination Southern NSW.  Please refer to the information provided on who to contact for guidance and support for each opportunity.

Destination Southern NSW may be able to provide a Letter of Support for your project if it aligns with the Southern NSW Destination Management Plan .  

Destination Southern NSW cannot determine if your organisation or project is eligible for funding. You must confirm your organisation and project eligibility under the relevant fund or program before requesting a letter of support.

Please complete this form to request a Letter of Support for your project. 

For tips and guidance on writing grant applications check out our video library here.

For general enquiries and support for your application, Contact Us .

Destination Southern NSW, and our fellow Destination Network partners, are not required or permitted to provide a letter of support to applicants for the Regional Events Fund Program. You are encouraged to contact your IDM if you plan to submit an application. Please ensure you have read the program guidelines, the relevant section of the application form, and accessed a copy of the Destination Southern NSW Destination Management Plan before doing so.  

Current Grant Opportunities

Regional event fund.

The Regional Event Fund identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a ‘cornerstone’ or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long-term benefits to the region.

Funding is available across three streams:   

• Incubator Event – Closes 9th April 2024
• Flagship Event – Closes 9th April 2024
• Event Development – Open until funds are exhausted.

To be eligible, events must run between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, be held in one of the seven  Destination Networks  and meet the specific eligibility and assessment criteria outlined in the Grant Guidelines for the individual stream.

Destination Southern NSW, and our fellow Destination Network partners, are not required or permitted to provide a letter of support to applicants for the Regional Events Fund Program. You are encouraged to contact your IDM if you plan to submit an application. Please ensure you have read the program guidelines, the relevant section of the application form, and accessed a copy of the Destination Southern NSW Destination Management Plan before doing so.

Find out more  here .

Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Enterprises | Round 2

The grant opportunity provides eligible small and medium businesses up to $25,000 to purchase energy efficient equipment to reduce and manage energy usage and costs.

Applications for Round Two close on 8th April 2024

Find out more here .

Recording and Promotion Grants

Sound NSW’s $1 million Recording and Promotion Grants program will support NSW contemporary musicians to record and release new, original creative projects.

NSW artists can apply for grants of:

• up to $25,000 for short-form releases, such as a single or EP
• up to $50,000 for long-form releases, such as an album
• up to $25,000 matched funding for artists signed to a major label.

Applications close on 17th April 2024

Qantas Regional Grants Program

The Qantas Regional Grants program is offering $2 million in support to Australian-based communities and projects that are looking to benefit regional areas. 

In its third year, the Qantas Regional Grants program is designed to help these communities sustain brighter futures by providing financial, flight and marketing support to charities, organisations, projects and individuals.  

Applications close on 10th May 2024

Touring and Travel Fund

Designed to address the time-sensitive nature of venue availability and performance opportunities, Sound NSW’s $2 million Touring and Travel Fund offers quick response grants of up to $2,500 per person for domestic activity and up to $7,500 per person for international activity.

Applications close on 20th May 2024

Find out more   here . 

Lights On, Doors Open Stipend Program

Financial support for volunteer-led museums in NSW.

The ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ stipend program has been established to relieve the pressures faced by volunteer-led museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces in NSW.

Funding of $2,000 is available to provide crucial financial support to cover essential expenses like rent, electricity bills and more. The program is not for organisations developing new ideas; rather, it is aimed at supporting organisations to cover small operational items difficult to cover through other grant programs.

The application process is designed to be hassle-free, ensuring a smooth experience for all applicants.

Funding will be allocated based on the order of eligible applications received until funds are exhausted.

Open Streets Program

The Open Streets Program (the Program) is a $4.5 million non-competitive grant program open to all councils across NSW. The Program aims to energise our streets with free activities and events.

The Open Streets Program aims to:

• Temporarily close streets to vehicles and open them for people, with projects over a day, or series of days, and provide safe spaces for community events and activities.
• Bring vibrancy to our streets by creating a sense of excitement and discovery with creative events and activations that are inviting and inclusive to the community.
• Support job creation in local businesses and the cultural sector.
• Support the development of longer-term place management outcomes, through projects that encourage private-public partnerships.

Funding of up to $150,000 is available to support the temporary closure of streets for placemaking activations for people. Events and activations are to be delivered by January 2025. 

Applications are now open and will close once the total program funding has been allocated, or by the application close date of 30 April 2024, whichever is first.

NSW Grants and Funding Finder

Search the NSW Grants and Funding Finder, a platform providing information on grants, savings, rebates and budget relief from 46 separate government websites.

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Regional Event Fund: Flagship Events

The Flagship Event stream provides funding for the marketing of emerging events to increase their profile and encourage visitation.

March 12, 2024

Fund closes

April 9, 2024

About the Regional Event Fund

The Regional Event Fund was established in 1996. The program is a mechanism to grow regional visitation by assisting events that contribute to the unique character of the tourism regions of NSW to market themselves to visitors from outside of their Local Government Area.

The Regional Event Fund comprises three individual funding streams providing a development pipeline for events from inception, through emergence, to their establishment as tourism events in Regional NSW.

The three individual streams of the Regional Event Fund are:

• Incubator Event stream – supports the establishment of new events
• Flagship Event stream – supports the marketing of emerging events to increase their profile and encourage visitation
• Event Development stream – supports the strategic development of established events as drivers of tourism.

Each of the three streams within the Regional Event Fund have different eligibility, selection criteria and assessment processes.

Applications for the three streams are managed separately.

The primary objective of the Regional Event Fund is to provide grants to events in regional NSW that have demonstrated they are, or have the potential to become, tourism drivers for their region. Depending on the stream, grants are focused on event delivery, event marketing or specific growth initiatives. Secondary objectives include leveraging supported events through Destination NSW marketing and communications activities to build the profile of NSW and specific destinations, and, through the application and feedback process, to offer guidance to event organisers to improve event management capabilities. Ultimately, the funding program aims to increase visitation to regional events and increase economic benefit to destinations. This page provides information on the Flagship Event stream of the Regional Event Fund only. Guidelines for the Incubator Event stream and Event Development stream are available separately.

The Flagship Event stream identifies and assists the development of events that contribute to the unique character and culture of the tourism regions of NSW and can demonstrate that they attract overnight visitation.

The Flagship Event stream offers grants specifically to support marketing activities aimed at increasing visibility and attracting visitation to the event from outside its immediate area. Grants through the Flagship stream are only available to events that have been running for more than two years.

The Flagship Event stream offers two subcategories:

• Annual grant - $20,000 (ex GST)
• Triennial grant - $30,000 (ex. GST) per annum for three years

A single event may receive an annual grant a maximum of three times and a Triennial grant only once. An event will only be considered for a Triennial grant once it has received three Annual grants.

Application to the Flagship Event stream is a single-stage process consisting of an online application form responding to a series of questions that address the fund criteria. Strong applications require robust data and supporting information.

To be eligible for Flagship Event funding an event must be held for the third time or more between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 and must align with the fund criteria outlined in the grant guidelines .

Applicants are encouraged to read the Flagship Event grant guidelines before commencing an application to ensure your event meets the requirements.

View the guidelines here .

Eligibility

Who can apply

To be eligible to apply for any of the three streams of the Regional Event Fund, applicants must:

• Be the event owner (i.e. own the rights to the event and hold the relevant approvals for the event)
• Be financially solvent
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Be a sole trader, company, incorporated association, or trust entity
• Have at least $20 million public liability insurance or be able to secure before entering into a Funding Agreement.

Who can’t apply

Ineligible applicants include:

• Australian, State or Territory Government agencies or entities, including New South Wales

Destination Networks

• Political parties

Types of projects funded under this grant

To be eligible for the Flagship Event Annual event subcategory, your event must:

• Take place between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025
• Have been held for a minimum of two years prior to applying for funding
• Be held in one of the seven Destination Networks.

The Destination Networks include:

• Destination Country & Outback NSW
• Destination North Coast (including Lord Howe Island)
• Destination Riverina Murray
• Destination Southern NSW
• Destination Sydney Surrounds North
• Destination Sydney Surrounds South
• Destination Central West

View Destination Networks boundaries map

Please note: the Local Government Areas of Penrith, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Wollondilly are no longer included in the below Destination Networks.

To be eligible for the Flagship Event Triennial event subcategory, your event must:

• Meet the Eligible Events criteria above for Flagship Event Annual subcategory
• Have received three Flagship Event Annual event grants.

Please review grant guidelines for the types of projects not funded under this grant.

What can you apply for?

Grants must be expended on marketing activities that:

• Enhance the marketing and promotion of the event outside its home region
• Are directed at specific markets outside the immediate Local Government Area of the event
• Aim to increase tourism business by influencing visitors' intention to travel to, and stay overnight in, the region and/or to extend their length of stay.

Eligible costs include:

• Advertising or promotional costs
• Brand design
• PR activities
• Website development
• Social or digital marketing
• Cooperative marketing activities
• Photography or videography
• Visitor research

All visual communication materials (advertising, fliers, posters, image gallery etc.) must be of an appropriately high, professional standard. If required, grant monies should be used to achieve this standard.

What can’t you apply for?

Grant funds cannot be used to replace previous or other funding for the Event, such as:

• Prize money, gifts, or contributions to charitable groups
• Performer/artist fees
• Infrastructure costs
• Travel expenses
• Event staging costs
• Local council fees
• General administration costs such as staff costs, salaries, administration and services
• Costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation.

What your application needs to include

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the grant guidelines in full
• Check their eligibility for the program
• Speak to their Destination Network to advise of their intent to apply.

All applications for grants from the 2024/25 Flagship Event stream must be submitted through the Destination NSW online application platform .

Applicants will be required to attach the following documents to their online application:

• Completed marketing plan
• Completed Event Plan detailing your: event overview, operational processes, risk management, team structure and evaluation plan
• Itemised budget for the 2024/25 event including projected revenue and expenditure
• Certificate of currency for at least $20 million public liability insurance or evidence of ability to secure before entering into a Funding Agreement.

The application form includes multiple opportunities to upload supplementary information in support of the application and applicants are encouraged to do so.

Address the eligibility criteria

Each applicant must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria for the Flagship Event stream, when completing the online application form.

Applicants should note the additional eligibility criteria for the Flagship Event Triennial subcategory.

Address the Assessment Criteria

The Flagship Event stream of the Regional Event Fund is an open, competitive grants program. Eligible applications will be assessed on their merits against the selection criteria, be compared with and ranked against other applications. Applications with the highest scores are more likely to be funded.

Assessment will be based on the following assessment criteria:

• Economic impact (30% weighting)
• Strategic marketing alignment and community impact (50% weighting)
• Event planning and due diligence (20% weighting)
• Completed event management plan detailing your event overview, operational processes, risk management, team structure and evaluation plan
• Certificate of currency for at least $20 million public liability insurance, or evidence of ability to secure before entering into a funding agreement.

Application process

Applications are now open for the Flagship Event stream of the 2024/25 Regional Event Fund. Applications for grants from the 2024/25 Flagship Event stream must be submitted through the Destination NSW online platform .

• Speak to their Destination Network to advise of their intent to apply
• Start their applications early during the application period to ensure they are completed in good time before the closing date. Destination NSW is not responsible for delays to the submission of applications caused by technology, connection or other issues outside of its control.

After the application is submitted

Applicants will be advised via email and/or letter of the outcome of their grant application once approval is determined by the decision maker.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing and offered the opportunity of a feedback session about their application.

Support and contact

If you need assistance or further information regarding this fund please contact the Grants Administration Team via email on [email protected]

For information on Destination Management Plans, regional tourism strategies and local tourism stakeholders click here .

Event listings

For assistance or questions about the Get Connected program, Destination NSW websites or the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), please call 1300 137 225 or email  [email protected] .

Program evaluation

Destination NSW will undertake an evaluation of the Program.

NSW Tourism Grants

Unlike other grants, hospitality and tourism grants are mostly funded by the individual states in an attempt to increase tourism, both local and international. In this article, we will cover some tourism grants the NSW government has announced alongwith their eligibility criteria.

Grants for Aquariums and Zoos

The Australian Government in April 2020 announced a grant of $94.6 million towards Supporting Australia’s Exhibiting Zoos and Aquariums Program and it was announced that the program will run for the next 6 months. This grant is part of the earlier announced $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund aimed at helping regions and communities and sectors that are affected badly by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The same program was given an extension of 6 months on 28 October 2020 by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. The grant can be claimed by those zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums that were badly hit due to lack of tourists owing to COVID-19 restrictions.

However, they need to fulfill the below-mentioned eligibility criteria:

• Must be a region, state or national level organisation that has a proven record of conserving and presenting animals and promote interstate as well as international visitation
• Must be registered in Australia
• New entrants/applicants are ineligible under this program

Waiver of Fee and License NSW

The NSW government has announced a waiver of fee and license for a number of businesses including hospitality and tourism businesses for a period of 12 months. This grant however is available for the businesses that are based at NSW only. The following businesses will benefit from it:

Liquor and gaming : Bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and pubs with less than three branches are eligible for a waiver of new license application fees as well as annual liquor license fees.

Fair Trading NSW : Fees waiver include tattoo parlor license fees, house building contractor’s license fees, motor vehicle repairing specialist license fees, etc.

The impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality sector was tremendous. Many business houses are yet to recuperate. Cited above are only some of the grants that are aimed at the revival of hospitality sector in Australia.

Boosting Business Innovation Program

One of the grants offered by the NSW government aims at encouraging businesses to build innovative products and services in NSW. The program’s main goal is to build better collaboration between research institutes and businesses to develop an innovative ecosystem. A total funding of $18 million is available under this program and requires the applicant to co-contribute. The program is available on an ongoing basis.

Eligibility Criteria:

All start-ups and SMEs located in NSW are eligible to apply for financial assistance under this program.

Another grant offered by the government of NSW aims at supporting start-ups and emerging SMEs that are growing at a faster pace. The main goal behind this program is to accelerate their growth and create more jobs for the residents of NSW. A total funding pool of $190 million is available for 4 years (until 2020) under this grant. The amount that can be claimed depends on the category the applicant belongs to. Under this grant, the applicant also has to co-contribute.

Below mentioned are the various categories under which the funding is available:

• To encourage promising start-ups a matched funding of up to $25,000 is available in this category.
• To encourage technology related start-ups to grow and create jobs, grants of up to $100,000 are made available.
• To encourage emerging SMEs that are quickly growing, loans of up to $500,000 are offered in this category.
• To encourage emerging fast growing SMEs in regional NSW, interest-free loans of up to $500,000 are offered by the government under this category.
• Fast growing SMEs which are creating more jobs but are unable to get financial help from lenders are offered loans of up to $1.2 million under this category.

Who can apply?

NSW industries in the following sectors can apply for financial assistance under this program.

Manufacturing, creative, digital innovation, environment, finance, food, infrastructure, education (international), life sciences, tourism and regional HQs.

The above mentioned are only some of the many grants available for tourism businesses in NSW. In order to find more information about such grants and their eligibility criteria, please speak to one of our advisors at the number mentioned below.

Other Programs:

Enquiry Form

Grants by Sector

• COVID-19 Support Grants
• Agriculture
• Business Development
• Community Development
• Construction & Trades
• Digital Content/ Apps
• Early Childcare & Education
• Export/ Import Grants
• Green Initiative
• Hospitality
• Innovation/ R&D
• Manufacturing
• Professional Business Services
• Renewable Energy Grant Funding
• Startup Business
• Transportation

Grants by Location

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia

Current Grants

Contact an Advisor

To find out if you qualify:, call 1300-005-999, quick assessment, use the eligibility test for a quick assessment.

How we can help

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Reviving International Tourism Grant Program

Supporting travel and tourism businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main content

Status: Closed

The Reviving International Tourism Grant Program (RITG) supports international ready Australian tourism businesses, including wholesalers and exporters, to undertake demand-driving activities such as expos, business development and marketing.

How the program worked

Austrade is administering the program over 2 financial years (2022–23 and 2023–24). The total grant appropriation of $9 million  was split into 2 streams:

• Stream 1 ($6m): Reconnect with international markets
• Stream 2 ($3m): Digital uplift

Applications were demand-driven and eligibility based and capped to a maximum number of applicants based on available funding.

Program outcomes

Find successful grant program recipients on GrantConnect by searching for grant opportunity number GO6253 (Stream 1) and GO6272 (Stream 2).

Grant amounts

Successful grantees under Stream 1 received an initial grant payment of:

• $15,000 for ATEC member applicants
• $10,000 for CATO member applicants
• $10,000 for Other eligible applicants.

All successful Stream 1 grantees also received a second payment of $24,000 in the 2023-24 financial year.

A final payment of $2,000 will be made available to all Stream 1 grantees in April 2024.

Grantees who receive funding in both 2022–23 and 2023–24 under Stream 1 may use these funds to attend the same eligible event.

Successful grantees under Stream 2 received a one-off grant payment of $2,000.

A second payment of $6,000 will be made available to all Stream 2 grantees in April 2024.

Important dates

Stream 1 applications:

• opened: 23 May 2023, 10:00am AEST
• closed: 13 June 2023, 4:00pm AEST.

All Stream 1 grant funding must be expended by 31 December 2024 and grant activities must be completed by 31 March 2025.

Stream 2 applications:

• closed: 4 July 2023, 4:00pm AEST.

All Stream 2 grant activities and expenditure must be completed by 31 March 2025.

Eligibility

Stream 1 of RITG opened to eligible tourism exporters (inbound tour operators) and travel wholesalers (outbound tour operators/travel wholesalers) to reconnect with international markets by attending pre-approved eligible events.

Stream 2 of RITG opened to eligible tourism businesses to undertake digital uplift activities including website overhaul/audit, online booking capability, integration and automation of systems, production of brochures, social media modernisation and accessibility upgrades.

Applicants must have met all the  eligibility criteria .

Download the Reviving International Tourism Grants Guidelines (DOCX 1.08MB) .

Payment of grants

Successful applicants of both RITG Stream 1 and 2 were issued with a 16-digit Virtual Credit Card (VCC) to pay grant expenses. This allows Austrade to monitor expenditure and acquit grant funding. Grantees may need to produce invoices to support their expenditure.

Using the Virtual Credit Card

To make a transaction, grantees should enter the 16-digit number on an online merchant's website.

Please note the following conditions of RITG program expenditure: 

• The use of VCCs is limited to specific merchant codes that align with the grant program's eligible activities.
• Grant payments cannot be made using bank transfer.
• Reimbursement of paid invoices is not permitted.
• Keep your card details secure - anyone who has access to these details can spend your grant funds. 

A separate VCC was issued for each RITG Stream, even if a grantee is successful for both Stream 1 and Stream 2.  

The second payment made under Stream 1 in the 2023–24 financial year will be automatically credited to the existing Stream 1 VCC.

The final payments available under Streams 1 and 2 will be credited to existing Stream 1 or Stream 2 VCCs. These will be credited if and when the additional payment is accepted by the grantee.

Stream 1 grantees must spend all grant funding by 31 December 2024. All Stream 1 VCCs will be de-activated on 1 January 2025.

Stream 2 grantees must spend all grant funding by 31 March 2025. All Stream 2 VCCs will be de-activated on 1 April 2025.

All grant activities must conclude by 31 March 2025. This may include allocating grant funding towards eligible activities up to 31 March 2025. Any unspent grant funding will be forfeited.

Learn how to use a Virtual Credit Card (PDF 234KB ,   DOCX 478KB ).

Email: RITGrant@austrade.gov.au

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