Enabling Tourism Fund

Grants up to $500,000 for Victorian tourism projects to reach investment-ready status by funding planning activities such as feasibility studies and design for future investment.

Current status of program

CLOSED

To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.

What is the Enabling Tourism Fund (ETF)?

The Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 (ETF) is supporting regional and rural Victorian tourism projects to reach investment-ready status by funding planning activities such as feasibility studies and design for future investment.

This fund will help to deliver a strong pipeline of demand-driving tourism infrastructure projects across Victoria.

The fund will deliver two grant streams:

1. Stream 1 – Testing the Concept:
2. Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment

Applicants can only submit one application for either Stream 1 or Stream 2.

ETF level of support

Grants

• Stream 1 – Testing the Concept: between $20,000 and $500,000 for a project to test the concept of a new infrastructure project, such as a feasibility study, master plan or business case.
• Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment: between $20,000 and $500,000 to prepare a combination of materials to ensure that a project is ready for infrastructure investment. These could include a detailed design package, funding strategy, or stakeholder and community engagement plans.

Co-contribution

• Applicants cannot use other State Government funding, such as funding from Regional Development Victoria, as part of their local contribution.
• Projects that have received or will receive Victorian Government funding from other sources outside this Fund may apply, however any such funding will be considered as part of funding assessment criteria.
• Local contributions may comprise of funding from other organisations including local government authorities, schools, educational institutions, Australian Government, and community organisations.

The following funding ratios and co-contributions apply:

Private, public and not-for-profit applicants

• Victorian Government = $4
• Local = $1

Traditional Owner Corporations, organisations and groups, and Aboriginal-owned businesses

• Not Required

Applications from Traditional Owner Corporations, organisations and groups, and Aboriginal-owned businesses are exempt from co-contributions, but must meet the criteria outlined in the guidelines to be eligible.

In-kind contributions will not be considered as part of the funding co-contribution, however in-kind contributions will be taken into account during the assessment process. Applicants that include an in-kind contribution must provide a completed in-kind and voluntary support form as outlined in the supporting documentation.

ETF important dates

• This program is currently closed
• Register your interest here with GrantHelper

ETF objectives and outcomes

The ETF will invest in high-potential tourism initiatives from the market-testing phase, through to the planning and design phases towards investment-ready status.

The objectives of the ETF are:

• Build a strong pipeline of demand-driving public and private tourism infrastructure projects and progress them towards investment-ready status
• Develop strategic tourism infrastructure projects that will increase visitation, improve quality of customer experience, and increase visitor yield and length of stay
• Develop projects that broaden Victoria’s tourism offering, and support and encourage year-round visitation and dispersal across regional Victoria
• Leverage and facilitate private sector investment, including through strengthening public tourism infrastructure.

The ETF reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to strengthening the visitor experience in Regional Victoria. The ETF will invest in proposals that can demonstrate commitment to the following outcomes:

• Regional Victoria has a strengthened pipeline of experience products and accommodation
• Regions are developing a more compelling visitor offering
• Regional accommodation is more attractive to visitors
• Regional accommodation is more accessible.

ETF investment priorities

Activities funded through ETF must support the delivery of the outcomes identified in Experience Victoria 2033, which has seven outcome metrics:

1. Driving economic growth – Victoria’s visitor economy attracts more visitors to our state who stay longer, produce higher yield, and be more likely to return.
2. Innovative and outstanding – Victoria pushes the boundaries and transforms original ideas into brilliant businesses, exciting products and events and ultimately, a richer experience for visitors.
3. Sustainable and regenerative – Victoria’s visitor economy creates experiences that stand the test of time by protecting and enhancing our extraordinary landscapes and biodiversity.
4. Inclusive and welcoming – Victoria’s visitor economy delivers meaningful experiences and employment for people of all identities, cultures and abilities.
5. First Peoples focused – Victoria’s First Peoples are self-determining their priorities for tourism development, creating wealth and contributing to positive outcomes for their communities and Country.
6. Valuable for our communities – Our tourism investments align with the plans and aspirations of local communities and generate positive benefits for local communities.
7. Unique to place – Our tourism products build on the different signature personalities of our suburbs, towns, cities and regions.

Projects and expenditure eligible for ETF support

Project types eligible for funding:

Stream 1 – Testing the Concept

• Business case development
• Feasibility studies
• Master planning including concept design
• Market testing and assessments
• Site analysis.

Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment

A combination of the following that delivers a project ready for infrastructure investment:

• Detailed design package
• Quantity Surveying Report
• Relevant technical investigations, plans and reports to progress the project for example; universal design, environmental and sustainability plans, Cultural Heritage Management Plans, quantity surveying, traffic management
• Stakeholder and community engagement plan and implementation
• Operational viability studies
• Investment Prospectus development
• Developing a funding strategy.

The following activities will not be funded:

• Capital and infrastructure projects and expenses
• Ongoing operating costs or salary subsidies
• Investigative work that is not part of a broader project
• Marketing, advertising, or product promotion including signage
• Retrospective funding, where activities have been completed or have started prior to receiving funding approval
• Projects where contributions from funding partners are not confirmed in writing and by bank statement/s or underwritten by the applicant or
• Projects previously funded through the Enabling Tourism Fund unless applicants can demonstrate additional or new outcomes.

See the guidelines for full details of projects and expenditure eligible for ETF support.

Other ETF important details that you will need to know

ETF resources

• Source
• Guidelines
• FAQs

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