Up to $5 million to support iconic tourism projects in Queensland, creating world-class experiences, boosting visitation, generating jobs, and delivering lasting economic and community benefits.
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What is the Tourism Icons Investment Fund (TIIF)?
The Queensland Government has launched the Tourism Icons Investment Fund (TIIF), a $20 million per year program that will run over four years as part of the Destination 2045 Plan.
The program is designed to stimulate private sector investment in new or enhanced tourism infrastructure, attractions, and experiences.
By funding projects that exceed visitor expectations and leave lasting community benefits, Round 1 focuses on six tourism sectors:
- Ecotourism – nature-based and conservation-focused experiences.
- Dark Sky Tourism – stargazing and astronomy-based attractions.
- Agritourism – farm stays, winery tours, and food/produce-based visitor experiences.
- Coastal & Marine Tourism – Great Barrier Reef activities, snorkelling, diving, marine wildlife.
- Cultural & Heritage Tourism – Indigenous tourism, museums, festivals, historical storytelling.
- Paleo Tourism – fossil sites, palaeontology museums, excavation tours.
The application process involves:
- Expression of Interest (EOI) submission.
- Assessment and shortlist.
- Invitation to submit a Full Business Case (FBC).
- Detailed due diligence and economic assessment.
- Final decision by DETSI.
Tourism Icons Investment Fund level of support
Funding amount:
- Minimum Grant: $1 million – meaning total project costs must be at least $2 million.
- Maximum Grant: $5 million per project.
Co-contribution:
- Funding is provided on a 1:1 co-contribution basis.
- Applicants must contribute at least 50% of the total eligible project costs.
- Applications above $5 million or requests for varied co-contribution may be considered at the discretion of the assessment panel.
Tourism Icons Investment Fund important dates
- Expressions of Interest close: 8 October 2025
- Full Business Case invitations open: 31 October 2025
- Full Business Case close: 8 December 2025
- Funding decision announcement: March 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Tourism Icons Investment Fund objectives and outcomes
Objectives:
- Stimulate private sector investment in tourism infrastructure and experiences.
- Deliver new and enhanced attractions that increase the duration of visitor stays in Queensland.
- Support sustainable, culturally significant, and regionally beneficial projects.
- Encourage innovation in tourism offerings, including nature-based, cultural, heritage, and marine experiences.
- Create jobs and strengthen Queensland’s visitor economy.
Outcomes:
- Development of world-class tourism experiences that inspire visitors and attract new markets.
- Increased economic value through higher visitation, overnight stays, and visitor expenditure.
- Enhanced community and social benefits across Queensland regions.
- Revitalisation of existing brands and tourism assets to boost long-term industry resilience.
- A stronger, more sustainable Queensland tourism sector positioned as a global leader by 2045.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Tourism Icons Investment Fund support
Projects must:
- Be zoned appropriately for tourism development.
- Align with the Destination 2045 Plan.
- Have in-principle support from local government and Traditional Owners (where required).
- Be investment-ready and able to commence within 12 months of funding approval.
- Show significant progress toward Development Approval (DA), with preference for projects that have DA already in place.
- Be substantially progressed towards securing funding, tenure, and approvals.
- Preferably complete by June 2028, though later completion dates may still be considered
The following costs are not eligible for TIIF funding:
- Maintenance works (repairs of existing assets).
- Pre-approval activities (planning, feasibility studies, conceptual design, approvals, consultations, cultural heritage management plans, insurances, tender processes).
- Environmental offset costs.
- Marketing, advertising, and websites.
- Staff remuneration or entitlements (permanent or temporary).
- Purchase or leasing of real estate/land.
- Event delivery costs.
- Furniture, décor, linen, and other soft infrastructure.
- Temporary or short-term infrastructure.
- General business administration, legal, or operating costs.
- Costs incurred by internal staff teams.
GST costs are also ineligible – funding is always calculated on an ex GST basis.
Other Tourism Icons Investment Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Tourism Icons Investment Fund support
Applicants must:
- Be an established tourism operator in Queensland, OR a new operator (including from another state) demonstrating active establishment in Queensland.
- Hold an ABN and be GST-registered at the time of application.
- Not-for-profits and Queensland Local Government Authorities that provide a tourism service or experience are also eligible.
Preference will be given to businesses with Sustainable Tourism accreditation (or equivalent).
Not eligible:
- State, Territory or Australian Government agencies, statutory bodies, or government-owned corporations
Tourism Icons Investment Fund assessment criteria
Applications will be assessed against three weighted criteria:
1. Strategic Alignment (40%)
- Alignment with Queensland Government strategies and Destination 2045.
- Delivery of new or enhanced tourism experiences.
- Demonstration of technical, commercial, and practical feasibility.
2. Economic Value (40%)
- Leverage of private sector and third-party investment.
- Value-for-money outcomes for Queensland.
- Economic benefits such as job creation during construction and operation.
- Growth of the visitor economy (increased visitation, overnight stays, expenditure).
- Creation of bookable products.
- Ability to deliver the project within required timeframes.
3. Risk and Cost Allocation (20%)
- Demonstrated planning and preparedness (feasibility studies, design drawings, approvals, risk management).
- Evidence of land tenure and ownership consent.
- Environmental and cultural heritage compliance.
- Local government and Traditional Owner support.
- Lower-risk proposals that balance costs fairly will be favoured
How do I get the Tourism Icons Investment Fund?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project/s as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
To successfully secure funding, applicants should be able to demonstrate:
- That the project is investment-ready and can start within 12 months.
- Evidence of secured co-contribution funding (bank statements, letters from financial institutions, parent company guarantees, or government grant confirmations).
- Project readiness – Development Approvals obtained or significantly progressed.
- Financial capacity – audited financials for the past three years (or equivalent evidence if a new operator).
- A comprehensive business case showing economic, tourism, environmental, and social benefits.
- Risk management plans that address delivery, environmental, cultural, and operational factors.
- Sustainability credentials – preference will be given to operators with Sustainable Tourism accreditation.
- Support from local government and Traditional Owners (where required).
- Evidence of capability to deliver projects of similar scale and complexity.
Information to prepare for the Tourism Icons Investment Fund application
Applicants should prepare the following documents and evidence:
- Evidence of co-contribution funding (bank statements, guarantees, or approved loans).
- Project plan including objectives, benefits, cashflow forecasts, Gantt chart, and procurement strategies.
- Audited company financials for the past three years.
- Land ownership details or consent from landholders (and Native Title status, if applicable).
- Development Approval evidence or documentation of application progress.
- Risk assessments and mitigation plans.
- Maintenance and asset management plans for post-completion sustainability.
- Letters of support from local government and Traditional Owners (where relevant).
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Tourism Icons Investment Fund
Applications are submitted via the SmartyGrants portal: DETSI SmartyGrants.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Tourism Icons Investment Fund resources
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