Tourism Growth Program in British Columbia

Who can apply

The TGP program is open to businesses and not-for profit organizations. Businesses may apply for interest-free repayable contributions. Not-for profit organizations may apply for non-repayable contributions.

Applicants must also meet the following mandatory criteria:

All eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.

For Businesses

1. Must be financially viable businesses, operating for a minimum two years in British Columbia;
2. Restaurants, accommodation and retail are not normally eligible. Some exceptions can be made for restaurants or accommodations that are an anchor for a tourism community.

Indigenous applicants

Indigenous tourism is vital to the economic development and growth of Canada’s tourism sector, from coast to coast to coast, and is a priority under the Tourism Growth Program. Through the $108 million TGP, approximately 15% of funding will specifically support Indigenous tourism initiatives. Indigenous applicants are invited to apply through the process below.

Applicants eligible for funding under the TGP include entities such as:

1. Incorporated small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs),
2. Not-for-profit organizations (including tourism associations and organizations),
3. Post-secondary institutions,
4. Indigenous-owned businesses (including sole proprietors) or Indigenous organizations, or
5. Governments (municipal/provincial and related entities)

Project activities must include at least one of the following priority areas (in no order of preference):

1. Support active tourism – projects that attract domestic and international visitors to participate in outdoor recreational experiences. This also includes improvements to make active tourism inclusive and accessible.
2. Increase tourism benefits for communities – projects that increase visitors to smaller communities and rural areas, thereby extending the benefits of tourism in B.C.
3. Support Indigenous tourism industry – projects that are either Indigenous-owned or led that improve or increase Indigenous tourism experiences, which is one of the fastest growing international segments in B.C.’s tourism market.
4. Support economic, environmental and cultural sustainability – projects that support economic, environmental and culturally sustainability.
5. Extend the tourism season – projects that support the development and delivery of shoulder season products.
6. Complement support provided through provincial programs – projects that align with efforts across the federal government and complement provincial, regional and local programs and initiatives.

Eligible projects must be incremental to the applicant’s existing activities and align with at least one of the six program priorities listed above. Examples of project activities may include, but are not limited to:

1. helping operators to improve and/or create innovative tourism offerings attractive to domestic and international visitors,
2. supporting digitization, automation, or technology integration investments that enhance SME productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness,
3. supporting businesses with promoting tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences,
4. extending the tourism season by assisting tourism SMEs in the development and delivery of shoulder season products (e.g., winter tourism product development), developing capacity for more inclusive tourism experiences (e.g., enhancing accessibility of tourism assets, staff training to ensure welcoming, inclusive environments to diverse clientele),
5. developing and/or implementing sustainable tourism plans in communities based on research and market analysis,
6. supporting destinations to implement tourism plans that create or improve local assets, facilities, and planning for key infrastructure, including trails, and other activities related to growing tourism.