Tourism Support Program

What is the Tourism Support Program?

The Tourism Support Program is an initiative that provides funding to WA tourism operators for expenses incurred in preparation for the border opening scheduled for 5 February 2022.

Background

On Thursday 10 February 2022, the Premier announced a $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package for sectors significantly affected by the delay to a full border reopening as a result of the Omicron variant.

This package includes support for eligible businesses in the tourism sector, designed to support the cash flow of businesses and partially offset some of the additional costs or lost revenues as a result of the adjusted border reopening.

There are four programs applicable to the tourism industry. Tourism WA is administering three of these programs.

The four programs available to the tourism industry are:

$20 million Tourism Support Program – to provide immediate assistance to sole traders and employing businesses that have incurred expenses in preparation for the initially scheduled full border opening on 5 February;
$15 million Tourism Deposit Refund Program – to provide immediate assistance to eligible tourism businesses that have refunded deposits from some cancelled interstate and international bookings;
$10 million boost to the existing Aviation Recovery Fund, originally announced as part of the Reconnect WA package – taking the total in this fund to $75 million; and
$3 million Travel Agent Support Fund – offering payments for eligible home-based businesses and $20,000 payments to eligible brick-and-mortar businesses.

Funding

Payment of $10,000 for sole traders, and $20,000 for employing businesses will be provided to eligible applicants. Program funds are not subject to GST.

Eligible Projects

Eligible expenses that may be claimed, include:

marketing activities particularly targeted at interstate and/or international markets
staff recruitment, training, relocation or mobilisation expenses
insurances
registrations and licences
equipment deployment or activation for reopening
mobilisation of vehicles/vessels/aircraft and associated surveying and mobilisation requirements
reinstating supply chain requirements, memberships and accreditation costs
business IT and online booking/information systems.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible, businesses must:

demonstrate a minimum reduction of 30% in turnover between the 2018-19 and 2021-21 financial years
be an active member of the WA tourism industry through membership or accreditation of identified tourism organisations
have a valid and active Australian business number (ABN) prior to 20 January 2022
have business premises located in WA
have a turnover greater than $50,000
have incurred expenses in preparation for the anticipated border opening on 5 February 2022.

Additionally, the tourism business must operate within at least 1 of the following categories:

accommodation
tourism attraction or experience
tour
transport (travel/transfer/hire services)
booking agents and visitor centres
tourism related retail outlet.

Timing

Applications close 29 April 2022.

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