The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. With a budget of $500 million over two years, including $50 million specifically dedicated to Indigenous tourism initiatives, this Fund will position Canada to be a destination of choice when domestic and international travel is once again safe by:

  • empowering tourism businesses to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors; and
  • helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors by providing the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world.

In southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario is delivering TRF funding to local organizations.

 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.

 

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors, such as:

  • businesses;
  • not-for-profit organizations, such as tourism associations; and
  • band councils or other Indigenous organizations and cooperatives.

To be considered eligible for this Fund, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • be a key supplier or operator in the visitor experience;
  • be part of a defined tourism cluster or tourism dependent community, including supporting downtown cores; or
  • provide an anchor product or service in a destination.

For more details on eligible applicants, please visit FedDev Ontario’s TRF webpage and consult the Application Guide.

 

What activities are supported?

Tourism Relief Fund projects will focus on:

  • Product development: For example, projects that enhance tourism experiences, help tourism businesses adapt to the “new normal” and modernize their offerings, and encourage the adoption of more environmentally sustainable and inclusive practices.
  • Destination development: For example, projects that position communities to take advantage of post-pandemic opportunities through strategic planning for medium- to long-term investments, as well as supporting destination development in line with objectives set out in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.

For more details on eligible applicants, please visit FedDev Ontario’s TRF webpage and consult the Application Guide.

 

What kind of financial support is being provided?

  • Contributions to businesses will be either:
    • non-repayable contributions up to $100,000 for up to 50 percent of eligible costs; or
    • fully repayable contributions up to $500,000 for up to 75 percent of eligible costs.

*NOTE: A business cannot receive a combination of a non-repayable and a repayable contribution for the same project.

  • Not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous entities (not generating profits) will be eligible for non-repayable contributions.
    • Project contribution amounts would not exceed $500,000. The actual contribution amount will be based on the minimum amount required to carry out the project.

For more details on eligible applicants, please visit FedDev Ontario’s TRF webpage and consult the Application Guide.

Submitting an application

 

For more details on eligibility and on how to apply, please contact contact FedDev Ontario at 1-866-593-5505. The agents are well versed in existing funding options and can help you find other solutions that may be available. 

For more information on the resources available for businesses, visit Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan page, consult the Managing your business during COVID-19 page or download the Canada Business application.

FedDev Ontario staff will also be hosting four technical briefings on the TRF through Zoom over the next few weeks. Those who are interested may register via one of the following links: