Tourism Development Fund (TDF)

Q: How much funding can be received?

Tourism Development Fund (TDF) Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $25000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Tourism Development Fund (TDF)?

Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is funded by Government of Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS)

Q: Who is eligible for the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) program?

To be eligible for the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) program, you must: • Must be an Ontario-based, incorporated for-profit tourism business or organization in existence for at least 3 years. • Must have a Canadian bank account in the legal name of the organization, operating in Ontario. • Cannot be in default of any grant or loan agreement with any Ontario ministry or agency.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Tourism Development Fund (TDF)?

You can contact Government of Ontario by email at ido.ont@ontario.ca or by phone at (416) 325-6691.

Q: Where is the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) available?

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) program is available the province of ON.

Last Update: August 13, 2025

ON, Canada

Supports innovative tourism development and investment projects in Ontario

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $25,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Closing date : September 14, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is an application-based, cost-sharing program designed to provide non-capital funding to innovative tourism projects that increase tourist visitation and spending in Ontario. Eligible activities include consulting fees, project management services, temporary wages, research, business plan support, and economic impact studies. The program will match up to 50% of eligible expenses, with a maximum grant of $25,000.

Financing terms and conditions

Funding covers up to 50% of total eligible cash project expenses, to a maximum of $25,000.
The lead applicant must provide a minimum cash contribution of at least 10% of total eligible cash expenses.
Only cash contributions from the lead applicant are considered for matching; in-kind contributions are not matched.

Activities funded

Development of innovative tourism products and experiences.
Initiatives to attract domestic and/or foreign private sector tourism investment.
Projects that build the capacity of Ontario’s tourism industry to support new tourism investments.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 12,500

Developing an interactive mobile app to boost tourism

$ 10,000

Organizational development for a new music festival

$ 12,500

Creating a strategic tourism development plan for Niagara Falls

$ 7,000

Facilitating a business plan for a new eco-tourism venture

$ 10,000

Conducting an economic impact study of a new art festival

$ 12,500

Supporting the development of an indigenous cultural heritage center

Eligibility

The applicant must be a municipality, destination marketing organization, Indigenous organization, not-for-profit organization with a tourism focus, or a for-profit tourism business or organization.
The applicant organization must be based in Ontario, incorporated or legislated, and have been in existence for at least three years as of the application deadline.
The applicant must have a Canadian bank account in its legal name at a financial institution conducting business in Ontario.
The applicant must consult with a Regional Development Advisor or the Investment and Development Office prior to applying to confirm project and expense eligibility.
The proposed project must take place in Ontario and fall within the specified project timeframe.

Who is eligible?

Municipalities and Destination Marketing Organizations
Indigenous Organizations
Not-for-Profit Organizations with a clearly defined tourism focus
For-Profit Tourism Organizations
For-Profit Tourism Businesses

Who is not eligible

Federal or provincial governments and their agencies.
Tourism industry associations.
Regional tourism organizations.
Sole proprietorships.
Limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships.

Eligible expenses

Consulting fees and project management services.
Wages for temporary contract staff to support delivery of the project.
Research and tourism sector strategic planning.
Business plan support.
Economic impact studies and assessments for developing new tourism products and experiences.
Organizational development and capacity building.
Translation costs directly related to the project.
Other reasonable and directly attributable project expenses approved in writing by the ministry.

Eligible geographic areas

Province of Ontario, Canada

Selection criteria

Organizational capacity (15%)
Francophone, Indigenous, or 2SLGBTQIA+ impact (10%)
Project description (20%)
Alignment to program objectives (20%)
Confirmed partnerships and support from stakeholders (10%)
Project performance measures (20%)
Budget (5%)

How to apply

Preliminary Preparation

Read the Tourism Development Fund Application Guide thoroughly.
Consult with your Regional Development Advisor or contact the Investment and Development Office via email at ido.ont@ontario.ca to discuss your proposal.

Registration and Account Setup

Create a My Ontario Account and register for Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) access.
If you are an existing TPON user, migrate your profile to a My Ontario account using your associated email.

Gather Necessary Documents

Prepare and electronically sign the completed Tourism Development Fund Application Form.
Gather incorporation documents and financial statements as required.
Collect any optional letters of support from organizations and partners.

Complete and Submit Application

Fill out the application form in the TPON system using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Upload all mandatory documents to the TPON system before the deadline of September 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Submit the application and ensure you receive an email confirmation within 24 hours.

Follow Up

Ensure that your application status is updated in the TPON system.
If confirmation of submission is not received, contact TPON Client Care at TPONCC@ontario.ca or call 416-325-6691.

Additional information

Recipients must maintain $2 million in commercial general liability insurance with specific endorsements.
The application requires a complete submission of all mandatory documents before the deadline for assessment.
Post-project reporting may be required for up to three years following project completion.
Applicants must acknowledge Ontario's support in all communication and media relating to the funded project.

Contacts

ido.ont@ontario.ca

(416) 325-6691

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Tourism Development Fund (TDF). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.