Grants up to $250,000 to support tourism operators to create innovative offerings or enhance existing experiences, attracting more visitors and strengthening the Northern Territory economy.
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What is the Red Centre Tourism Development (RCTD)?
The Red Centre Tourism Development Fund is an Australian Government grant program administered by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) designed to support tourism businesses in the Red Centre region of the Northern Territory.
The program provides funding to tourism operators to develop new and innovative tourism offerings or upgrade existing tourism products and experiences that attract visitors and strengthen the region’s tourism economy.
Projects must directly support a bookable tourism product or experience and be delivered within the Red Centre tourism regions of Alice Springs, MacDonnell, Barkly, or Lasseter.
The program forms part of the Australian Government’s Targeted Regional Tourism Support Package, which aims to rebuild visitor demand and stimulate economic activity in iconic regional destinations across Australia.
Red Centre Tourism Development Fund level of support
The Australian Government has allocated $2.5 million in total program funding for the Red Centre Tourism Development Fund.
Funding Amount
- Minimum grant amount: $10,000
- Maximum grant amount: $250,000
Funding will be awarded through a competitive assessment process until the available program funding is exhausted.
Co-Contribution Requirement
Applicants must provide a cash co-contribution toward eligible project costs.
The required contribution depends on the type of project:
New and innovative tourism offering
- Grant can cover up to 75% of project costs
- Applicant must contribute at least 25% cash
Upgrade or enhancement of an existing tourism offering
- Grant can cover up to 50% of project costs
- Applicant must contribute at least 50% cash
Applicants must provide evidence of available cash funding when submitting their application. Government grant funding from other programs cannot be used toward the co-contribution.
Red Centre Tourism Development Fund important dates
- Program opens: 5 March 2026 (12:00 pm AEDT / 10:30 am ACST)
- Questions close: 8 April 2026 (4:00 pm AEST / 3:30 pm ACST)
- Applications close: 13 April 2026 (5:00 pm AEST / 4:30 pm ACST)
- Expected notification of successful applicants: May 2026
- Project completion deadline: 15 May 2027
- Final program end date: 30 June 2027
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Red Centre Tourism Development Fund objectives
The objective of the program is to stimulate tourism development and increase visitor activity in the Red Centre region.
The intended outcomes of the program include:
- Renewed tourism interest and activity in the Red Centre
- Development of tourism offerings that diversify or complement gaps in the regional tourism market
- Increased visitation and visitor spending in the Red Centre
- Improved local employment opportunities within tourism businesses
- Strengthened reputation of the Red Centre as a high-quality tourism destination
The program also supports the broader objectives of THRIVE 2030, Australia’s national visitor economy strategy, including strengthening regional tourism infrastructure and promoting unique visitor experiences.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Red Centre Tourism Development Fund support
Projects must develop new tourism experiences or upgrade existing tourism products that will increase tourism activity and visitor spending in the Red Centre.
All funded projects must produce or support a bookable tourism product or experience.
Eligible projects must be located within one of the following tourism regions:
- Alice Springs
- MacDonnell
- Barkly
- Lasseter
Examples of Eligible Projects
1. New tourism experiences
Projects may include:
Construction of purpose-built visitor facilities such as:
- night sky viewing facilities
- bird watching platforms
- educational visitor facilities
- Development of new guided tourism tours
- Development of new tourism experiences or visitor events
- Construction of new tourism accommodation such as cabins, campgrounds, or visitor restaurants
- Purchase of equipment required to deliver new tourism experiences (e.g. e-bikes, camping equipment for tours)
2. Upgrades to existing tourism products
Projects may include:
- Upgrading visitor infrastructure or facilities
- Improving accessibility or visitor amenities
- Purchasing additional equipment to enhance existing tourism experiences
- Expanding tourism offerings through additional visitor activities
3. Motor vehicles
Funding may be used for motor vehicles where the vehicle:
- Directly supports a tourism experience
- Is used exclusively for tourism activities
- Represents no more than 25% of the total project cost.
Ineligible Expenditures
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- Project costs incurred before the grant agreement is signed
- Preparation of the grant application
- Routine operational or business-as-usual costs
- Salaries and wages (except temporary staff directly delivering the project)
- Loan repayments, debt financing or interest
- Maintenance or repair of existing infrastructure
- Replacement of existing equipment unless it forms part of a new or upgraded tourism experience
- Purchase or leasing of land
- Projects already funded through other government grants
- Costs not directly linked to a bookable tourism product or experience.
Other Red Centre Tourism Development Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Red Centre Tourism Development Fund support
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be a legal entity capable of entering into a grant agreement
- Have a business turnover of less than $5 million for the 2024-25 financial year
- Have operated during the 2025-26 financial year and most of the 2024-25 financial year
- Be primarily a tourism business
- Hold a current or recent membership with a regional tourism organisation or tourism industry peak body
- Be solvent and not under insolvency administration
- Maintain an Australian bank account
Eligible tourism business categories include:
- Accommodation
- Attractions
- Events
- Tours
- Food and beverage
- Transport
- Equipment or vehicle hire businesses.
Red Centre Tourism Development Fund assessment criteria
Applications are assessed through a two-stage competitive assessment process.
Stage 1 – Merit Assessment
Applications are scored against the following criteria.
Criterion 1 – Alignment with Program Objectives (30 points)
Applicants must demonstrate how their project will:
- Promote tourism interest and activity in the Red Centre
- Increase the diversity of tourism offerings and fill market gaps
- Increase visitor numbers and visitor spending
- Create or support local employment opportunities
- Enhance the attractiveness and reputation of the Red Centre as a tourism destination
Additional merit may be awarded where the project:
- Is located in Alice Springs or the MacDonnell region
- Introduces a new and innovative tourism offering
- Is delivered by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation or Aboriginal community-controlled organisation.
Criterion 2 – Capacity, Capability and Resources to Deliver the Project (40 points)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Proven experience delivering similar projects or managing tourism infrastructure
- Strong project management capability
- A clear and achievable project delivery timeline
- Access to appropriate project partners or contractors
- Ability to secure necessary regulatory approvals, permits or licences
- Risk management strategies addressing supply chain, labour or material availability
- Evidence that the project can be delivered within the program timeframe.
Criterion 3 – Commitment to the Local Visitor Economy (20 points)
Applicants must demonstrate how their project aligns with regional tourism strategies, including:
- THRIVE 2030 – Australia’s national visitor economy strategy
- Northern Territory Tourism Industry Strategy 2030
- Other regional tourism development strategies.
Applicants should also demonstrate their commitment to the visitor economy through activities such as:
- Participation in tourism accreditation programs
- Membership in tourism organisations
- Engagement with Tourism Australia initiatives
- Participation in industry events and partnerships
- Listing products on tourism platforms such as the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW).
Applications must achieve a minimum score of 60 out of 100 to progress to the second stage of assessment.
Stage 2 – Comparative Assessment
Applications that pass Stage 1 are compared against each other based on:
- Value for money
- Contribution to diversifying tourism offerings
- Priority regional locations
- First Nations participation.
Final funding decisions are made by the Program Delegate at Austrade.
How do I get the Red Centre Tourism Development Fund support?
To successfully receive funding, applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong project that delivers a new or enhanced tourism experience
- Clear evidence that the project will increase visitation and tourism spending
- Alignment with regional tourism development strategies
- The capability and experience to successfully deliver the project
- A well-structured and realistic project plan and timeline
- Evidence of available cash co-contribution
- A clear link between the project and bookable tourism products
- Demonstrated commitment to the local tourism industry and visitor economy.
Applications are assessed competitively and the highest-scoring projects that best demonstrate these factors are most likely to receive funding.
Information to prepare for the Red Centre Tourism Development Fund support
Applicants should prepare the following information and documentation before applying:
- Financial statements for the 2024-25 financial year
- A detailed project budget
- Evidence of available cash co-contribution
- Evidence the project can commence in mid-2026 and complete by May 2027
- Public liability insurance documentation
- Proof of tourism organisation membership
- Project plans or design documentation
- Supplier quotes or cost estimates
- Risk management plans.
Applying for the Red Centre Tourism Development Fund support
Applications must be submitted through the SmartyGrants online portal.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Red Centre Tourism Development Fund resources
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