What is the WA Tourism and Travel Agent Support Fund?
The WA Tourism and Travel Agent Support Fund is a grant opportunity to help WA tourism operators recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Background
The jointly funded $16.8 million WA Tourism and Travel Agent Support Fund was announced by the WA and Federal Governments on 22 August 2021. This fund will be targeted at businesses operating in the accommodation, tourism attraction and experience, tour and transport (travel and transfer services), and travel agent sectors that have been impacted by the lockdowns and border restrictions that are in place across Australia.
Funding
Delivered through Tourism WA, the funding program offers payments of between $2,000 and $10,000 to eligible tourism businesses and travel agents.
1. Impacted sole traders ($2,000)
- Sole traders or for businesses that do not employ staff that have been impacted by a reduction in turnover by 30 per cent or more.
2. Impacted small business operators ($2,000)
- For employing businesses with an annual turnover between $50,000 and $100,000 and have been impacted by a reduction in turnover by 30 per cent or more.
3. Impacted small businesses with employees ($5,000)
- Employing businesses with an annual turnover of more than $100,000 and up to $1 million and have been impacted by a reduction in turnover by 30 per cent or more.
4. Impacted medium businesses ($10,000)
- Employing businesses with an annual turnover of more than $1 million and up to $10 million, and have been impacted by a reduction in turnover by 30 per cent or more.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Program, Western Australian tourism businesses must comply with all of the criteria below:
- A tourism business that operates within at least one of the following categories:
- Accommodation;
- Tourism attraction or experience;
- Tour;
- Transport (travel and transfer services); or
- Booking Agents and Visitor Centres
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN) prior to 15 May 2021;
- As at 22 August 2021, be an active member of the WA tourism industry through any one of the following:
- A member of a Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO): Australia’s North West, Australia’s Coral Coast, Destination Perth, Australia’s South West or Australia’s Golden Outback;
- A member of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC);
- A member of or accredited via:
- the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program / Tourism Council WA;
- STAR Rating Australia Program;
- ECO Certification Program / Ecotourism Australia; or
- Caravan / Holiday Park Accreditation Program / Caravan Industry Association WA.
- Have worked with Tourism WA in either 2020 or 2021, as part of the agency’s marketing activities, or received support through a previous funding program (refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document for further information on applicable activities);
- Have business premises located in Western Australia;
- For employing businesses, have an annual turnover* of between $50,000 and $10 million, based on either the 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial year;
- Experienced at least a 30 per cent reduction in turnover* by comparing the following two periods:
- Saturday 15 May to Friday 25 June 2021 (six weeks); and
- Saturday 10 July to Friday 20 August 2021 (six weeks)
To be eligible for the Program, Western Australian travel agents must comply with all of the criteria below:
- Fall within the following description of a “travel agency business”:
- A business that primarily provides travel information, reservation and booking services for transport (e.g.planes, ships and rental cars); accommodation (e.g. hotels, motels and serviced apartments); and tourist attractions (e.g. theme and amusement parks and museums) to individuals and business travellers.
- Be located, owned and operated in Western Australia;
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN) prior to 15 May 2021;
- Offer domestic or New Zealand travel product to travellers;
- Demonstrate at least a 30 per cent reduction in turnover* by comparing the following two periods:
- Saturday 15 May to Friday 25 June 2021 (six weeks); and
- Saturday 10 July to Friday 20 August 2021 (six weeks).
Timing
Applications close 30 September 2021.
