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)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
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
Eligible projects for the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) focus on product development and destination development to help tourism businesses adapt and modernize their offerings while supporting post-pandemic strategic planning.
- Creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements.
- Helping operators create innovative tourism offerings attractive to local and domestic visitors.
- Modernizing operations, attractions, greening initiatives, and online sales services.
- Supporting businesses with local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
- Developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences (e.g., staff training, gender-neutral washroom facilities).
- Providing support to local communities to develop sustainable tourism plans based on research and market analysis.
- Supporting seasonal dispersion by equipping tourism SMEs to extend product offerings for winter and shoulder seasons.
- Enhancing tourism services and experiences, including market readiness for experiential tourism.
- Implementing strategies to re-activate and animate downtown cores, main streets, and business districts.
- Supporting scale-up and market expansion activities for key enterprises essential to local economic vitality.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$300,000
Toronto
Enhancing online booking and virtual tour capabilities at Toronto Museum.
$150,000
Halifax
Developing sustainable tourism activities in Halifax’s waterfront area.
$250,000
Banff
Establishing a winter festival in Banff to attract off-season tourism.
$340,000
Vancouver
Revitalizing Vancouver's Chinatown with cultural tourism initiatives.
$100,000
Ottawa
Implementing inclusive tourism services in Ottawa.
$145,000
Quebec City
Developing winter tourism experiences in Quebec City.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Applicants must be part of the tourism ecosystem and cater mainly to visitors. Eligible applicants include small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and Indigenous organizations.
- Incorporated 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
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. Applicants must be part of the tourism ecosystem and cater mainly to visitors, not including local residents.
- Incorporated 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 (including Indigenous sole proprietorships)
- Indigenous organizations such as Indigenous-led not-for-profits and organizations
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Businesses in the following industries are normally not eligible under this initiative:
- Restaurants
- Retail sector
- Hotel chains
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The eligible expenses for the Tourism Relief Fund include costs incurred for product development and destination development projects to adapt businesses to the 'new normal' and enhance tourism offerings.
- Creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and infrastructure for health and safety requirements
- Innovative tourism offerings for local and domestic visitors
- Modernizing operations, attractions, and online sales services
- Local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences
- Developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences
- Strategic planning for sustainable tourism plans and destination development
- Equipping tourism SMEs to extend their product offering for seasonal dispersion
- Implementing tourism plans for local asset and facility improvement
- Developing and executing tourism economic recovery plans
- Enhancing tourism services and experiences, including market readiness
- Strategies to re-activate downtown cores, main streets, and business districts
- Market expansion activities for key enterprises critical to local economic vitality
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
Eligible geographic zones for the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) are located in the Prairies. Applicants must ensure their projects occur within this region.
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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
- Step 1: Review the Program Guidelines
- Ensure your organization is eligible to apply for funding.
- Confirm your proposed activities meet the program’s objectives and criteria.
- Step 2: Prepare your Application
- Gather necessary information such as your organization's legal name, mailing address, website, email address, and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number.
- Compile financial statements for the past 2 years and interim financial statements for at least the last 6-month period.
- Prepare a brief description of your organization, its mandate, and priorities.
- Clearly define your project, its objectives, activities, and economic benefits.
- Step 3: Fill Out the Application Form
- Enter organization information, including legal and operating names, mailing address, website, and email address.
- Identify whether your organization is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity.
- Provide a project title, project address, and brief project description.
- Describe the economic benefits, including sales and job creation.
- Select the regional development agency priority that aligns with your project.
- Step 4: Provide Detailed Project Information
- Set your proposed project start and end dates.
- Itemize project costs and identify funding sources.
- Provide detailed cash flow projections and identify funding partners.
- Explain how the project aligns with regional and federal priorities.
- Briefly describe any project partnerships.
- Step 5: Outline the Project Benefits
- Provide numerical projections for job creation and visitor impacts.
- Indicate how the project will benefit Francophones and other diverse groups, if applicable.
- Describe how the project aligns with broader government and community priorities.
- Step 6: Detail Project Timelines and Milestones
- Describe the full project details, including objectives and key activities.
- Break down the project into milestones and set completion dates.
- Step 7: Provide Market and Management Information
- Describe your market competition and project rationale.
- Outline your organization’s governance and the qualifications of key individuals managing the project.
- Step 8: Additional Details and Documentation
- Include support documents such as a business plan, project plan, and confirmation of other funding sources.
- Describe COVID-19 adaptations, new products/services, risk of closure, and mitigation plans.
- Step 9: Complete the Attestation
- Affirm that your organization meets the eligibility criteria and acknowledges the terms of the funding.
- Step 10: Validate and Submit
- Review the form for any errors or omissions and make necessary corrections.
- Submit your completed application form online.
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
Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) Overview
The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) supports tourism businesses and organizations in Canada to adapt their operations post-pandemic while promoting sustainable tourism growth. The TRF offers $500 million over two years to empower these enterprises to enhance tourism experiences, attract visitors, and strengthen the tourism sector in the Prairies.
Detailed Explanation of the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the global tourism industry, and Canada has been no exception. To mitigate the adverse effects and stimulate recovery in the tourism sector, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) has introduced the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF). This initiative aims to assist tourism businesses and organizations in adapting their operations to meet new public health requirements while also investing in their future growth to ensure Canada remains an attractive destination for both domestic and international travelers.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible recipients for the TRF must fall into one of the following categories:
- A key supplier/operator in the visitor experience: These entities provide the necessary infrastructure and services that support the tourism economy. This includes businesses connecting tourism products to potential markets, leading sustainable destination development planning, and supporting capacity building in the tourism sector.
- Part of a defined tourism cluster: A tourism cluster is a geographical concentration of businesses and organizations involved in tourism, linked by common and complementary products and services tailored for the visitor economy. These clusters are supported by a network of services and institutions.
- An anchor product in a destination: These are key assets that serve as a primary motivator for travel to a region, offering the catalyst for visitors to choose that destination. Anchor products can be operated by for-profit or not-for-profit organizations.
Types of Eligible Projects
The TRF supports eligible projects under two primary themes:
- Product Development and Enhancement of Tourism Experiences: This includes activities that help tourism businesses adapt to the 'new normal' by modernizing their offerings and adopting environmentally sustainable practices. Examples of eligible activities under this theme include:
- Creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to comply with health and safety requirements for visitors and employees.
- Helping operators reliant on international markets to create innovative offerings attractive to local and domestic visitors.
- Modernizing operations, attractions, and online sales services, as well as implementing greening initiatives.
- Supporting local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
- Developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences, such as staff training for welcoming diverse clientele.
- Destination Development: This includes strategic planning for medium to long-term investments, aimed at positioning communities to take advantage of post-pandemic opportunities. Examples include:
- Supporting local communities in developing sustainable tourism plans based on research and market analysis.
- Providing support for seasonal dispersion by equipping tourism SMEs to increase off-peak visitation.
- Assisting destinations in implementing tourism plans that enhance local assets and facilities.
- Supporting the creation or improvement of experiential tourism that responds to post-COVID-19 visitor expectations.
- Implementing strategies to re-activate downtown cores and business districts through various activities and mixed-use spaces.
Funding Details
The TRF provides significant financial support, with funding amounts based on the project's requirements and applicant type:
- For-profit businesses can receive either:
- Non-repayable contributions up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $100,000.
- Repayable contributions up to 75% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $500,000.
- Non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities not generating profits are eligible for non-repayable contributions, with project contribution amounts typically not exceeding $500,000.
Recipients are allowed to submit only one application per intake period and may receive funding for one successful project per year. Additionally, project costs must be incurred by March 31, 2023, to be eligible for funding.
Application Process
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the TRF guidelines to ensure their eligibility and that their proposed projects meet the program's criteria. The application must be completed in full, including all mandatory fields and required documentation:
- Organization Information: Legal name, operating name (if applicable), mailing address, website, email address, and corporate status. Information about Indigenous identification and other corporate details must also be provided.
- Project Information: Detailed description of the project activities, economic benefits, and alignment with PrairiesCan’s priorities. Applicants must outline how their projects meet public health requirements and support tourism growth.
- Project Costs and Cash Flow: Comprehensive breakdown of project costs and funding sources, including both RDA and non-RDA contributions. The application must demonstrate clear and verifiable costs, and detail any funding partnerships.
- Benefits: Information on economic benefits such as job creation, visitor impact numbers, and potential revenue generation. Projects should also indicate any support for Francophones and alignment with other Government of Canada priorities.
- Project Timelines and Milestones: Clear timeline for project implementation, including milestones and potential dependencies.
- Management and Governance: Details on the governance structure and qualifications of key individuals managing the project.
- Additional Documentation: Financial statements, project plans, business plans, and any other relevant supporting documents must be included.
- Attestation and Validation: The application must be attested to affirm that all provided information is accurate and that the applicant organization meets the eligibility criteria.
Priority Consideration
Priority consideration is given to projects that support the Indigenous tourism sector, contribute to regional economic development and job creation, and those that take place in tourism-dependent communities/regions. These projects should align with the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy and demonstrate potential for sustainable and inclusive growth within the tourism sector.
Conclusion
The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) is a critical initiative for the recovery and growth of Canada’s tourism sector. By providing financial support and encouraging innovation and modernization, the TRF ensures that Canadian tourism entities can effectively adapt to post-pandemic realities and continue to attract visitors from around the world. Interested applicants should thoroughly review the eligibility criteria and application requirements to maximize their chances of receiving support through this invaluable program.
