The Provincial Government today announced the details of the new Tourism and Hospitality Support Program which is being supported by an investment of $30 million from Budget 2021. This is in addition to the $13 million committed for tourism marketing.

Further to recommendations in the Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism’s final report, the program will provide financial relief to eligible tourism and hospitality operators facing substantial sales losses due to the pandemic.

Detailed program information and applications will be available online on July 13, 2021 and applications will be accepted until September 30, 2021 or prior if all funds are exhausted. The program will be administered in partnership with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology. See the backgrounder below for eligibility guidelines and other information.

Tourism is an economic driver in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to the pandemic, the tourism industry generated approximately $1.14 billion in spending annually with almost 20,000 jobs in tourism industries and 2,800 businesses, representing nine per cent of all jobs in the province. The Provincial Government is committed to recovery efforts and continues to work with the Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism, the Tourism Board, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, and other industry stakeholders to provide the necessary supports.

Quotes
“Tourism is vitally important to Newfoundland and Labrador. As we continue to reopen the province to travel, it is important that we do everything we can to assist our operators as they move through this year’s tourism season. Our government is confident our tourism industry will be even stronger going forward.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“As we reopen our province and welcome tourists once again, we are pleased to be able to provide this support program to operators at such a critical time. When the applications open online next week, I encourage operators to review the program details online and submit their applications.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“The tourism and hospitality industry builds stronger communities and contributes to a diversified economy. We partner with and support this industry to take advantage of strategic opportunities to advance economic growth and create employment opportunities for the people of our province. This program will assist those important operators that play a role in growing our province’s economy.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

“We have built our businesses with innovation and pride to be solid contributors to our local economy. Despite the many challenges of this past year, we are committed to rebuilding our businesses, welcoming back our visitors and ensuring our industry continues to be an economic pillar for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Jill Curran
Chair, Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism

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Learn more

Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism Submits Final Report

Premier Furey Establishes Tourism Advisory Council

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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca

Kathryn Summers
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 699-6147
kathrynsummers@gov.nl.ca

Eric Humber
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5777, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Jill Curran
Chair, Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism
jill@maxximvacations.com

BACKGROUNDER

Tourism and Hospitality Support Program 2021 Eligibility Guidelines

Applicant Eligibility – General

• Tourism and hospitality operators engaged in commercial operations that have experienced a loss of sales in 2020 over 2019 and have a reasonable plan to continue operations in 2021 and/or 2022.
• Eligible applicants will be eligible for a minimum contribution of $2,500 or a contribution calculated at five per cent of total loss of sales in 2020 over 2019, up to a maximum of $50,000, per enterprise.
• Corporations and sole proprietors/partnerships that are Newfoundland and Labrador owned and operated.
• Municipalities are not eligible.
• Applicants must have been in operation for at least one year on March 16, 2020 with the exception of new start-ups. New start-ups that were registered in 2020 and preparing to open for 2020 and/or 2021 season may be eligible but must provide additional information (i.e. summary of expenses) for assessment purposes.
• If required, applicants shall be incorporated in Newfoundland and Labrador and have its primary place of operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Prior to March 16, 2020, applicants were in a financial position to operate in 2020 and are able to provide a reasonable plan to continue operations in 2021 and/or 2022.
• Applicants are eligible to receive one non-repayable contribution per enterprise.
• Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis until September 30, 2021.

TARGET GROUPS

Eligible applicants will be determined based on the following categories:

Accommodations

• Comprised of various types of businesses, such as hotels/motels, cottages, inns and suites, bed and breakfasts, private parks and campgrounds, etc.
• Only accommodations that are licensed under the Tourist Establishments Act in 2020 are eligible.
• International franchises are not eligible unless they are registered as a corporation in Newfoundland and Labrador and locally operated.

Tours

• Eligible categories include tour operators (day and multi-day itineraries), boat tours, sea kayaking tours, fishing excursions, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle tours, hiking and wilderness tours and community/site walking tours.
• Registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020.

Attractions

• Eligible commercial attractions include golf courses, private recreation and amusement parks as well as private museums/attractions, registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020.
• Not-for-profit organizations that are selling tourism experience attractions and registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020 are eligible. Those that have accessed operational support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation’s Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP) or other provincial government operational grants are not eligible unless there is a difference between the amount issued under CEDP/other operational grants and the amount eligible under the Tourism and Hospitality Support Program. Consideration will be given for the amount difference if applicable.

Food and Beverage

• Independent, commercially operated restaurants, food trucks, snack bars/takeouts and cafes that hold a class 2 license with Digital Government and Service NL are eligible.
• Privately-owned drinking establishments including craft breweries and wineries, are eligible.
• Franchises, canteens, cafeterias, public markets, retail food stores, wholesale, church hall/banquet hall, bakeries, and catering operations are not eligible.

Outfitters

• Outfitting businesses offering non-resident hunting and angling packages are eligible.
• Outfitting lodges that are primarily hosting private/corporate clients are not eligible.

Transportation

• Tour buses/motor coaches and car rentals that regularly work with non-resident tour operators/groups and were registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020 are eligible.

Retail Operations in the Tourism Industry

• Private or non-profit gift and craft shops as well as artist studios and galleries that are primarily operating in the tourism industry, and were registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020 are eligible.

Events

• Not-for-profit events that attract non-resident visitors to the region and were registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020, are eligible. Those that have accessed operational support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation’s Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP) or other provincial government operational grants are not eligible unless there is a difference between the amount issued under CEDP/other operational grants and the amount eligible under the Tourism and Hospitality Support Program. Consideration will be given for the amount difference if applicable.
• Events that are designed to mainly attract local community audiences are not eligible.
• Events operated by private sector operators and were registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Operator Portal in 2019 and/or 2020 may be considered eligible.