Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)

Q: How much funding can be received?

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $500000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

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

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)?

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) is funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Q: Who is eligible for the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program?

To be eligible for the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program, you must: • Must be an incorporated business, primarily a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). • Must be part of the tourism ecosystem and cater mainly to visitors (not local residents). • Must be located in the Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan).

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

You can contact Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) by email at wd.ab-ab.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca or by phone at 780-495-4164.

Q: Where is the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) available?

The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program is available across Canada.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Tourism Relief Fund offers financial support for tourism growth

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $500,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Loans and Capital investments

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

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.

Financing terms and conditions

For for-profit businesses: non-repayable contributions 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 (a business cannot receive both types for the same project).
For non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities (not generating profits): non-repayable contributions up to a maximum of $500,000.
No recipient will normally receive funding for more than one project, and project contribution amounts will not normally exceed $500,000.

Activities funded

Development and enhancement of tourism products and experiences to attract more local and domestic visitors.
Modernization of tourism businesses, including adopting environmentally sustainable practices and digital enhancements.
Support for businesses to adapt operations and infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements.
Strategic planning and implementation of sustainable tourism plans for communities, including destination development initiatives.
Initiatives to extend tourism activity into off-peak seasons and re-activate downtown cores or main streets.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 340,000

Revitalizing Vancouver's Chinatown with cultural tourism initiatives

$ 150,000

Developing sustainable tourism activities’s waterfront area

$ 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

Eligibility

The applicant must be part of the tourism ecosystem and cater mainly to visitors (not local residents).
Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses (primarily small and medium-sized enterprises), not-for-profit incorporated organizations, municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations and related parties, and Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses or Indigenous organizations.
The organization must qualify as one or more of the following: a key supplier/operator in the visitor experience, part of a defined tourism cluster, or an anchor product in a destination.
The project must be located in the Prairies region.
The applicant must submit a fully completed application by the specified deadline.

Who is eligible?

Incorporated tourism businesses, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Not-for-profit incorporated organizations (including tourism associations and destination marketing organizations)
Municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations and related parties
Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses or Indigenous organizations (including Indigenous-led not-for-profits)

Who is not eligible

Restaurants (except in exceptional cases where they are considered anchor products attracting tourists to the region, assessed case-by-case)
Retail sector businesses
Hotel chains (except for Canadian-owned hotels considered as anchor products, assessed case-by-case)

Eligible expenses

Costs related to creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements for visitors and employees.
Expenses associated with modernizing operations, attractions, greening initiatives, and online sales services.
Costs for supporting businesses with local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
Expenditures for staff training to develop more inclusive tourism experiences, such as creating welcoming environments and gender-neutral facilities.
Support for implementing tourism plans, creating or improving local assets, facilities, and key infrastructure.
Expenses for developing and executing sustainable tourism plans based on research and market analysis.
Costs related to the extension of product offerings to increase visitation during winter and shoulder seasons.
Expenditures for activities to animate downtown cores, main streets, and business districts (e.g., public art, mixed-use spaces).
Expenses for scale-up and market expansion activities for key tourism enterprises.

Eligible geographic areas

Applicants located in the Prairies region of Canada (specifically Alberta, Manitoba, or Saskatchewan).

Selection criteria

Alignment of the project with the program’s objectives and focus areas, such as development and enhancement of tourism experiences or destination development.
Plausibility and significance of the projected economic benefits, including job creation and increased tourism activity.
Strategic importance of the applicant’s organization or project to the tourism sector in the region.
Contribution of the project to the economic development and job creation in the region.
Priority consideration for projects supporting the Indigenous tourism sector or undertaken in tourism-dependent communities or regions.

How to apply

Preparation

Review the program guidelines to determine eligibility.
Gather necessary organizational details and documents required for the application.

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.

Attach Required Documents

Upload supporting documents such as financial statements, project plans, and any other required documentation.

Submit Application

Submit the completed application form and attached documents through the PrairiesCan portal.
Confirm that all mandatory fields are completed before submission.

Application Confirmation

Upon successful submission, check the "My Submissions" tab for confirmation.
Retain any confirmation details for your records.

Additional information

Applicants can save their application in progress and return to complete it under the "My Applications" tab before submission.
All required documents, including financial statements for the past two years and at least six months of interim statements, must be uploaded with the application.
Economic and diversity outcomes should be substantiated with reasonable assumptions and supporting data within the application.
A PDF summary of the application can be accessed after submission for record-keeping purposes.

Contacts

wd.ab-ab.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca

780-495-4164

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF). 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.