Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Hosting

Who is eligible?

This grant is targeted at a variety of tourism-related entities within the Quebec region, aiming to support sustainable and innovative growth within the tourism sector. Eligible applicants must be legally established in Quebec and operating within the province.

• Tourism businesses, including both for-profit and non-profit organizations and cooperatives.
• Municipal entities, covering a wide range of municipal and regional structures.
• Recognized Indigenous communities and nations, along with Indigenous tourism organizations and businesses.
• Groupings of eligible clients, which can include combinations of the above entities.

Additionally, tourism accommodation businesses must comply with relevant laws and hold valid registration numbers, and those in the nature and adventure tourism sector must adhere to specific safety and quality standards or be working towards compliance. Exclusions include government bodies, certain ineligible businesses, and those not in compliance with language regulations.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain types of projects and industries due to specific restrictions and criteria. These exclusions ensure that the financial assistance aligns with the strategic objectives of promoting sustainable tourism development.

• State-owned enterprises and government departments of Quebec and Canada.
• Companies listed on the registry of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Companies not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française.
• Projects related to tourist lodges, hotel condominiums, bicycle paths, snowmobile trails, golf courses, and wharf renovations.
• Projects in the sectors of restaurants and retail businesses.
• Projects related to tourism signage.
• Projects focused on training content development.
• Projects in gambling or those related to sales and consumption of alcohol.
• Projects with a majority of costs related to upgrading, maintenance, or replacement of existing infrastructures or equipment.
• Projects already completed or underway at the time the application is submitted.
• Projects receiving non-repayable financial assistance from certain other tourism recovery programs.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the realization and enhancement of tourism projects.

• Construction, reconstruction, expansion, adaptation, or conversion of infrastructure or equipment.
• Deployment of a new tourism experience.
• Professional fees for recognized professionals, including design, engineering, and project management.
• Development, enhancement, and valorization of lands and trails.
• Purchase and installation of specialized equipment and furnishings.
• Acquisition of boats or rolling stock to enhance customer experience.
• Acquisition of land, easements, rights of way, and related expenses, if required for the project realization.
• Surveying costs of the construction site.
• Quality control costs on the construction site.
• Net taxes related to direct costs (excluding refundable parts).
• Costs associated with integrating artwork into a building or site following Quebec's Policy on the Integration of Arts to Architecture.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant specifically targets companies operating within the Quebec region, especially focusing on those involved in the tourism sector within specified municipalities.

• Companies operating legally within the province of Quebec.

Below are some additional relevant details for applicants of this grant:

• The financial assistance provided is non-repayable.
• All enterprises operating tourist accommodations must comply with current laws and regulations and hold a registration number.
• Projects must include sustainable development measures to reduce negative environmental impacts while creating social and economic benefits.
• A public tender is required for awarding construction contracts if the aid is $100,000 or more.
• Projects must incorporate elements in accordance with the Policy on the Integration of Arts into Architecture and Environment for most public building or site projects costing $150,000 or more.
• For autonomous construction projects, the manager must have an RBQ license.
• The French language compliance is mandated by the Law on the Official and Common Language of Quebec.
• A filled and signed application form must be provided in Excel format.