Ontario Tourism Recovery Program Set To Launch

Ontario has confirmed that it will launch its $100 million Ontario Tourism Recovery Program on Oct. 13, 2021.

Announced in the government’s spring Budget, the Tourism Recovery Program will support for-profit tourism businesses in the attraction, accommodation, and leisure travel sectors that help drive employment and visitors to their regions. Eligible businesses include hotels, inns, resorts, boat tours, ski hills, distilleries, hunting and fishing camps, airlines, motor coaches, live performance venues, cinemas, drive-in theatres, amusement parks, museums, and Indigenous attractions.

The Tourism Recovery Program will support tourism businesses that have experienced a loss of at least 50% of eligible revenue in 2020-21 compared to 2019.

Eligible applicants will receive up to 20% of 2020-2021 qualifying revenue losses with a funding cap of $1 million.

Program funding will go towards helping businesses reopen safely, develop innovative tourism products, and/or retain and create tourism jobs.

Eligible expenses include reopening and operating costs such as staff salaries and maintenance, health and safety measures for visitors and workers, tourism product and experience development, or marketing.

Applications for the Tourism Recovery Program will open on Oct. 13, 2021.

Go to http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/awards_funding/OTRP.shtml for more.