The NSW Government is gearing to pump another $3.5 million into the state's regional visitor economy via two new funding programs.
According to Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston, the aim is to support the development of new attractions and tourism infrastructure, refresh existing tourism products, and secure or create new business event opportunities.
Broken into two funding streams, the programs are as follows:
Tourism Product Development Fund:
- Refresh and renew fund: offering $10,000 grants to regional tourism operators to update their product or experience.
- Experience enhancement fund: provides between $50,000 and $150,000 in matched funding to assist operators upgrade existing accommodation to improve their star rating, upgrade business and leisure event venues and facilities, repurpose existing infrastructure to provide new facilities or experiences not currently available within the destination, or create new tourism attractons or experiences.
Regional Business Event Development Fund:
- Grants of up to $30,000 to create, attract and support business events for regional NSW and to motivate business event owners to incorporate regional NSW in their plans.
Ms Preston said the programs, delivered by Destination NSW, will help businesses and regional communities recover from the impact of droughts, floods, bushfires and the pandemic, by creating new jobs, enhancing the appeal of regional NSW and improving the quality of the visitor experience.
She said that it was an opportunity for new and established business owners in Hawkesbury to "be visitor-ready and create new business event programs".
"These funding programs are just what our local businesses need to get back on their feet, embrace new opportunities and create experiences, attractions and tourism products that visitors will come to Hawkesbury for," Ms Preston said.
"More visitors mean greater benefits for our local visitor economy and local community, so I encourage all business owners to consider how these Destination NSW programs could enhance their offering."
Applications for the $3 million Tourism Funding Program are now open and close on March 31.
Applications for the $500,000 NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund are also open now and close on April 30.
For more information and to apply, visit destinationnsw.com.au
