Tourism Relief Fund

Attention

The Tourism Relief Fund IS CLOSED and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is no longer accepting applications.

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.

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With a budget of $500 million over two years (ending March 31, 2023), including $485 million in regional priorities funding administered by Canada’s regional development agencies, with $50 million specifically dedicated to Indigenous tourism initiatives, and the $15 million National Priorities Stream administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), this fund will position Canada as a destination of choice as domestic and international travel rebounds by:

Indigenous applicants

Indigenous tourism projects are important to Canada’s economic recovery efforts and a priority under the Tourism Relief Fund. Under the fund, a minimum of $50 million will specifically support Indigenous tourism initiatives. Contributions to Indigenous entities (not generating profits) will normally be non-repayable. Indigenous applicants are invited to apply through the process described below.

National tourism support

Through the National Priorities Stream, ISED will deliver $15 million to support the advancement of national tourism priorities aligned with Canada’s Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. These include destination development, seasonal and geographic dispersion, and human resources and skills development. This funding will provide the opportunity to leverage the reach and expertise of national tourism organizations to support pan-Canadian or multi-regional activities—like conferences and events, training and research, and network building—focused on addressing challenges facing the tourism sector on its path to recovery.

Eligible applicants

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

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

For more details on eligibility criteria, please consult the applicant guide.

Eligible activities

Tourism Relief Fund projects will focus on:

Recognizing local realities, the regional development agencies (RDAs) will work to address the needs of businesses and communities on a regional basis, offering consistent support across Canada in this critical time. 

For more details on the eligibility criteria, please consult the applicant guide.

Financial support

NOTES:

For more details on the eligibility criteria, please consult the applicant guide.

Submitting an application

Before submitting an application, please make sure to consult the applicant guide.

Once you are ready, please fill out the Tourism Relief Fund application form online, and then send us your form:

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.

Contact us today!

To find out if the Tourism Relief Fund fits your needs, contact ACOA Business Information Services at 1-888-576-4444. The agents can help you submit your project or find other available solutions.

Or reach us by email:

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Atlantic time)

Grants and Contributions Awarded

Find more information on recipients of the Tourism Relief Fund by searching the Open Government Portal using the keyword ”TRF”.

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