Tourism Development Funding Support Program

Tourism Development Funding Support Program

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s Product Development Fund is a program which responds directly to the demonstrated need of the support to guide and prepare Indigenous tourism businesses to reach a market-ready state and develop sustainable growth for economic success.

ITAC invites Indigenous tourism businesses to apply for up to $10,000 to support tourism product development support to increase the market or export readiness of their business.  This program is in support of ITAC’s 5-Year goal of having 200 export-ready businesses by 2024.

Program Application

The deadline for the 2019 Development Funding Program Applications closed on Friday, September 27, 2019.

Fill out an online application.

Program Goal:

The overall goal of this program is to assist in providing expertise and funding support to Canadian Indigenous tourism businesses wishing to improve their market-ready and export-ready status in order to have the opportunity to gain greater marketplace awareness, larger volumes of visitors and sustainable business growth.

Funding Available:

This program is intended to assist as many Indigenous tourism businesses from across Canada as possible. There are limited funds available and therefore the funding amount for anyone applicant will be up to a maximum of $10,000.  Due to the high volume of applications received, ITAC may present an offer less than the full requested amount.

Project Eligibility:

As part of the application process, you will be asked to describe the project. The project must be specific to helping your Indigenous tourism business move towards market/export-readiness. Eligible projects must clearly demonstrate how the grant will increase revenues, increase the number of jobs or make the business more market or export-ready.

Your project plan could include (for example):

  • Staff Training
  • Website Upgrades
  • Infrastructure Upgrades
  • Expanding your current business
  • Administrative/Financial Advisory Assistance
  • Marketing & Sales Planning
  • Business Assessment
  • Health & Safety Equipment
  • Other projects related to improving market/export readiness.

Eligibility for this program is restricted to Canadian Indigenous tourism businesses that are at least 51% Indigenous-owned or controlled and who operate within one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada.

Application Process

The application process is designed to take you through a series of questions with an online application. Please respond with the best information you currently have to help us determine how best we can invest the available support funding.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants will work with ITAC staff to confirm the amount of investment; availability of any matching funding programs;  confirm the project plan; selection of suppliers/contractors necessary for the project;  the specific payments required for suppliers/partners/trainers/contractors; and, the schedule for start and completion of the project. Successful applicants will also be responsible for reporting back to ITAC regarding the project progress, results and financial details of funding investment.

For more information regarding the Tourism Development Funding Support Program, please contact:
Genevieve Huneault, Development@IndigenousTourism.ca