Up to $300,000 supporting regional tourism projects across Queensland, including new attractions, upgraded visitor facilities, eco-lodges, glamping, agritourism, ecotourism, and unique night sky tourism experiences.
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What is the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF)?
The Queensland Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) Round 2 provides funding to support new and enhanced tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences across regional Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The program forms part of the Queensland Government’s Destination 2045: Delivering Queensland’s Tourism Future strategy and aims to strengthen regional tourism by encouraging investment in high-quality tourism infrastructure that attracts visitors, increases visitor expenditure, supports local jobs and delivers long-term economic benefits to regional communities.
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund level of support
Funding amounts:
- Minimum funding: No minimum funding amount specified.
- Maximum funding: Up to $300,000 per project.
Co-contribution:
- No mandatory co-contribution is required.
- Applicants must fund any project costs that exceed the grant amount awarded.
- Applicants must also meet all ineligible project costs themselves.
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund important dates
- Applications close: 9 September 2026
- Funding announcements: December 2026
- Projects must: Commence within three months of funding approval and reach practical completion by 31 March 2028.
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund objectives
The Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund aims to:
- Create new tourism infrastructure across regional Queensland.
- Enhance existing tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences.
- Increase regional visitation.
- Encourage longer visitor stays.
- Increase visitor expenditure.
- Improve visitor dispersal throughout Queensland regions.
- Support sustainable tourism development.
- Create local employment opportunities.
- Strengthen regional economies.
- Increase Queensland’s international tourism competitiveness.
- Deliver long-term economic benefits for regional communities.
- Support implementation of Destination 2045.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund support
Eligible projects may include:
- New tourism attractions.
- New tourism experiences.
- Indigenous tourism experiences.
- Infrastructure celebrating Queensland’s natural attractions.
- Eco-tourism developments.
- Eco-lodges.
- Glamping accommodation.
- Tiny homes.
- Semi-permanent tourism accommodation.
- Sustainability improvements.
- Culinary tourism experiences.
- Agritourism experiences.
- Night sky tourism experiences.
- Expansion of existing tourism infrastructure.
- Refurbishment of tourism infrastructure.
- Accessibility improvements including pathways, ramps and signage.
- Permanent fixtures integral to the project.
- Construction-ready infrastructure projects.
- Final construction designs.
Ineligible Expenditure
Funding cannot be used for:
- GST.
- Project contingency costs.
- Maintenance or repair of existing infrastructure.
- Electric vehicle charging stations.
- Road upgrades.
- Wastewater treatment plants.
- Projects already commenced.
- Completed projects.
- Planning studies.
- Feasibility studies.
- Concept designs.
- Regulatory approval costs.
- Development approval costs.
- Marketing.
- Advertising.
- Promotional activities.
- Website development.
- Staff wages.
- Temporary employees.
- Purchase of land.
- Lease of land.
- Event delivery.
- Festivals.
- Community activities.
- Furniture.
- Décor.
- Linen.
- Temporary fixtures.
- Equipment hire.
- Vehicle purchases unrelated to construction.
- Environmental offsets.
- General administration.
- Legal costs.
- Operational business expenses.
Projects focused solely on public infrastructure upgrades, one-off events or activities that do not align with tourism objectives are also ineligible.
Other Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund support
Applicants must:
- Be an established tourism operator in Queensland operating for more than 12 months; or
- Be a new tourism operator establishing operations in Queensland; or
- Be an interstate tourism operator actively establishing Queensland operations with significant tourism benefits.
- Hold a valid ABN.
- Be registered for GST.
- Operate outside South-East Queensland.
- Operate within an eligible Regional Local Government Area.
Eligible organisations include:
- Local Government Authorities.
- Tourism businesses.
- Tourism operators.
- Not-for-profit organisations.
State Government agencies, Australian Government agencies and applicants that do not meet eligibility requirements are not eligible.
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund assessment criteria
Applications are assessed competitively against three weighted criteria.
1. Alignment with Government Priorities (40%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with Destination 2045.
- Alignment with Queensland Government tourism strategies.
- Alignment with Regional Tourism Organisation Destination Management Plans.
- Alignment with Local Government tourism strategies where applicable.
- Delivery of new or enhanced tourism products.
- Delivery of new or enhanced visitor experiences.
- Technical feasibility.
- Commercial viability.
- Practical deliverability.
- Long-term sustainability of the project.
2. Economic Benefits (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Creation of construction employment.
- Creation of ongoing operational employment.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes where applicable.
- Increased annual visitation.
- Increased visitor expenditure.
- Positive impacts on accommodation providers.
- Benefits for hospitality businesses.
- Benefits for retail businesses.
- Benefits for transport providers.
- Broader regional economic benefits.
- Robust methodology supporting economic forecasts.
- Evidence supporting visitor and expenditure assumptions.
3. Drive Demand, Tourism Growth and Deliverability (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong visitor demand for the proposed project.
- Contribution to regional tourism growth.
- Readiness to commence construction within three months.
- Realistic project timeline.
- Development approvals where required.
- Regulatory approvals and permits.
- Detailed project designs.
- Risk management planning.
- Capacity to deliver the project on time.
- Capacity to deliver within budget.
- Long-term operational capability.
- Marketing or business planning supporting ongoing operation.
How do I get the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund?
To maximise your chances of success, applicants should demonstrate:
- The project strongly aligns with Destination 2045.
- The project addresses regional tourism priorities.
- The project will create or significantly enhance tourism infrastructure.
- Strong evidence of regional economic benefits.
- Measurable increases in visitation and visitor spending.
- A financially viable and sustainable business model.
- Construction readiness within three months.
- Appropriate land tenure and owner consent.
- Local Government and Traditional Owner support where applicable.
- Required approvals and permits are in place or well progressed.
- Detailed project planning and cost estimates.
- Realistic timelines and risk management.
- Capacity to successfully complete and operate the project.
- Value for money and long-term benefits for Queensland tourism.
Information to prepare for the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund application
Applicants should prepare:
- ABN and GST registration details.
- Organisation details.
- Project description.
- Project timeline.
- Detailed project budget.
- Current supplier quotations.
- Evidence of applicant funding contributions (if applicable).
- Land ownership documentation or owner consent.
- Trust deed or partnership documentation (if applicable).
- Consortium agreements (if applicable).
- Local Government support letters.
- Traditional Owner support documentation where applicable.
- Development approvals.
- Regulatory approvals.
- Environmental approvals.
- Detailed project designs.
- Risk management plan.
- Business or marketing plan supporting ongoing operation.
- Economic modelling and visitor forecasts.
- Employment projections.
- Evidence supporting visitor expenditure estimates.
- Supporting letters from industry stakeholders where appropriate.
Applying for the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund
Applications must be submitted online through the Queensland Government’s SmartyGrants portal before the closing date.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund resources
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