Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
Canada
The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) provides financial assistance to tourism businesses and organizations adapting operations and enhancing products for future growth.
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
Loans and Capital investments
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
grant_single|grantors
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
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grant_card_status|open
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The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) provides $500 million over two years to support tourism businesses and organizations in adapting their operations to meet public health requirements and to enhance existing tourism experiences. The program covers a wide range of eligible activities, including modernizing operations, developing sustainable tourism products, and supporting local and Indigenous tourism initiatives.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant is available for companies situated within the Prairies region of Canada. Eligibility is centered around ensuring support for local tourism initiatives in these specified areas.
- Businesses located in Alberta.
- Organizations operating in Manitoba.
- Entities based in Saskatchewan.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$150,000
Developing sustainable tourism activities’s waterfront area
$340,000
Revitalizing Vancouver's Chinatown with cultural tourism initiatives
$145,000
Developing winter tourism experiences
$250,000
Establishing a winter festival to attract off-season tourism
$100,000
Implementing inclusive tourism services
$300,000
Enhancing online booking and virtual tour capabilities at Toronto Museum
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for the Tourism Relief Fund is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's role within the tourism ecosystem.
- Applicants must be key suppliers/operators in the visitor experience or part of a defined tourism cluster or provide an anchor product in a destination.
- Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), not-for-profit incorporated organizations, municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations and related parties, and Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses or Indigenous organizations.
- Applicants must cater mainly to visitors, not including local residents.
- Businesses must be limited to one successful application per year.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible applicants for the Tourism Relief Fund include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors (not including local residents) and fall under one of the following categories:1) Key suppliers/operators in the visitor experience: These are businesses or organizations that provide the necessary infrastructure and services to support the tourism economy. They play key roles in connecting tourism products to potential markets, planning for sustainable destination development, and supporting capacity building and skill development in the sector.2) Part of a defined tourism cluster: These are businesses or organizations situated in a geographic concentration involved in tourism, linked by common and complementary products and services tailored for the visitor economy, and supported by a network of services and associated institutions.3) Anchor products in a destination: These are key assets that serve as a motivator for travelers to visit a region. They may include activities or products operated by for-profit or not-for-profit organizations that drive visitation.Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses, primarily SMEs, not-for-profit incorporated organizations, municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations, Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses, and Indigenous-led not-for-profits.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Certain industries and companies are normally excluded from applying for the Tourism Relief Fund due to their main business activities not aligning with the fund's objectives. However, there are exceptions under specific conditions.
- Restaurants are typically not eligible unless they serve as an anchor product attracting tourists to the region.
- Businesses in the retail sector are normally not eligible.
- Hotel chains are usually not eligible unless they are an anchor product and the main reason for attracting tourists to the area.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The Tourism Relief Fund supports projects aimed at adapting and growing the tourism sector to meet new public health requirements and enhance experiences for visitors. Eligible activities focus on product development and destination development to support the recovery and growth of the tourism industry.
- Creating and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements for visitors and employees.
- Developing innovative tourism offerings attractive to local and domestic visitors for businesses previously reliant on international markets.
- Modernizing operations, attractions, implementing greening initiatives, and expanding online sales services.
- Local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
- Developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences, such as staff training and gender-neutral facilities.
- Supporting local communities in developing sustainable tourism plans based on research and market analysis.
- Implementing tourism economic development recovery plans in anticipation of post-pandemic travel.
- Enhancing tourism services and experiences to develop experiential tourism aligned with post-COVID-19 visitor expectations.
- Activating and animating downtown cores, main streets, and business districts through public art and mixed-use spaces.
- Supporting the scale-up and market expansion activities for key tourism enterprises vital to the local economy.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The Tourism Relief Fund covers specific expenses directly related to enhancing and developing tourism experiences and destination development.
- Creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements.
- Supporting local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
- Modernizing operations, attractions, and online sales services, including greening initiatives.
- Staff training to ensure welcoming and inclusive environments.
- Developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences, such as gender-neutral washroom facilities.
- Providing support to local communities for developing sustainable tourism plans based on market analysis.
- Implementing strategies to activate downtown cores and main streets through public art and mixed-use spaces.
- Supporting scale-up and market expansion activities for key enterprises essential to economic vitality.
grant_single_labels|criteria
Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The applications will be assessed based on the detailed project descriptions and alignment with the program’s objectives and criteria.
- Alignment with program objectives
- Detailed project description and activities
- Economic benefits and impact
- Support of the Indigenous tourism sector
- Importance to regional tourism sector
- Contribution to job creation and economic development
- Location within a tourism-dependent community/region
- Alignment with regional development agency priorities
- Inclusion of diverse groups and support for inclusive tourism
- Project timelines and feasibility
- Funding and partnerships clarity
- Governance and management qualifications
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Preparation
- Review the program guidelines to determine eligibility.
- Gather necessary organizational details and documents required for the application.
- Step 2: Complete Application Form
- Fill out detailed organization information including legal name, address, and incorporation details.
- Provide project information such as project title, description, and timelines.
- Specify primary and secondary contacts for the project.
- Detail funding requirements, project costs, and cash flows.
- Specify any project partnerships and economic benefits expected from the project.
- Step 3: Attach Required Documents
- Upload supporting documents such as financial statements, project plans, and any other required documentation.
- Step 4: Submit Application
- Submit the completed application form and attached documents through the PrairiesCan portal.
- Confirm that all mandatory fields are completed before submission.
- Step 5: Application Confirmation
- Upon successful submission, check the "My Submissions" tab for confirmation.
- Retain any confirmation details for your records.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
This applicant guide provides detailed instructions to assist organizations in completing and submitting an application for financial assistance under the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). It is important to read the guide entirely before starting an application to ensure alignment with eligibility criteria and objectives.
- PrairiesCan accepts only one application per business for each Tourism Relief Fund intake.
- Applications are saved under the “My Applications” tab for future work.
- Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
- Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.
- Applications are assessed in the order they are received and subject to remaining funding.
- Eligible recipients include tourism SMEs, non-profit organizations, municipalities, and Indigenous entities.
- A project contribution amount will not normally exceed $500,000.
- Funding requests from for-profit businesses must be either a non-repayable contribution up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $100,000 or repayable contributions up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $500,000.
- Contributions to non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities are non-repayable.
- Costs must be incurred by March 31, 2023, and located in the Prairies.
- Projects must align with product development or destination development themes.
- Email for Alberta: wd.ab-ab.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca
- Email for Manitoba: wd.mb-mb.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca
- Email for Saskatchewan: wd.sk-sk.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca
- Phone contact numbers for local and toll-free provided for Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
grant_single_labels|contact
wd.ab-ab.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca
780-495-4164
Apply to this program
Boosting Tourism through the Tourism Relief Fund
The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) aims to assist tourism businesses and organizations in adapting their operations in light of public health requirements, fostering the development of new tourism products and experiences in Canada. By providing $500 million over two years, the fund supports Canada's positioning as a premier travel destination post-pandemic.
Comprehensive Overview of the Tourism Relief Fund
The Tourism Relief Fund, administered by Prairies Economic Development Canada, is a strategic initiative conceived to rejuvenate the tourism sector across Canada. This program is targeted at helping businesses in the tourism industry to innovate and adapt their services, creating sustainable and modernized tourism experiences. With a total commitment of $500 million over the fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the fund underscores Canada's dedication to becoming a top destination when international travel fully resumes.
Key priorities of the TRF include empowering tourism operators to enhance existing offerings and create new experiences to draw visitors from local and domestic areas, thus ensuring a vibrant domestic tourism market. The fund also focuses on readying the sector to once more attract international visitors by showcasing the best tourism products Canada offers. Additionally, the TRF has earmarked $50 million specifically for supporting Indigenous tourism projects across the country, furthering their development and integration into the broader tourism landscape.
Eligibility for the TRF is keenly focused on entities closely tied to the tourism sector; this includes incorporated businesses primarily categorized as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organizations, municipalities, municipal organizations, and Indigenous-owned businesses or organizations. Typical applicants are those significantly involved in the visitor economy, acting as key operators, part of tourism clusters, or those offering anchor products that serve as the main travel motivator to their destinations.
The activities supported by the TRF fall under two broad categories: Product Development and Destination Development. Product development projects are directed towards adapting or enhancing tourism experiences and adopting more sustainable practices. Examples include adapting infrastructures to health and safety protocols, promoting local tourism through digital innovations, and providing inclusive experience services. Destination development, on the other hand, supports community-led tourism strategies that prepare regions to capitalize on post-pandemic opportunities through long-term investments and asset improvements.
Eligible projects require funding to scale-up operations or transition towards innovative tourism practices with non-repayable contributions up to 50% of eligible costs for a maximum of $100,000, or repayable contributions covering up to 75% of eligible expenses for up to $500,000 for for-profit entities. Non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities are typically eligible for non-repayable contributions up to the $500,000 ceiling.
With a sharp focus on regional economic recovery, job creation, and sustainable tourism practices, the Tourism Relief Fund serves not only as a bridge to economic stability for tourism entities but also as a catalyst for innovative growth and repositioning of Canada as a premier tourism destination globally. By leveraging this fund, tourism operators can strategically plan to strengthen their offerings, ensuring resilience already integral to the diversity and richness of Canada's tourism sector.
