With SA’s borders set to reopen on 20 July and overseas travel off the list for the foreseeable future, regional tourism is set to capture a major slice of the $65 billion up for grabs that Australians would normally spend on overseas travel.
The Nature-based Tourism Co-investment Fund is a grant program designed to assist eligible businesses and organisations to partner with the SA Government to deliver sustainable, high quality tourism experiences in South Australia. The fund will provide the stimulus and support that businesses need to activate or build on existing ecologically sensitive tourism offerings.
The fund is now open and will be available until June 2022, or until the fund is exhausted. Applicants can seek grants from $20,000 to $1 million and are expected to contribute at least half of the total financial costs of their project.
Proposals will be considered on the following land:
- South Australian national parks and reserves
- Crown land areas under the care and control of the Minister for Environment and Water
- Crown land areas under the care and control of local councils when supported by relevant councils
- South Australian Botanic Gardens
- national, state and local Heritage-listed places under the Heritage Places Act 1993 (SA) under the care and control of the Minister for Environment and Water
- historic shipwrecks within South Australian state waters
- Aboriginal owned or controlled lands and where First Nations peoples have shared access rights under Native Title
- forest reserves proclaimed under the Forestry Act 1950
URPS recently presented a session hosted by TiCSA on how to prepare a high-level business case, how to gain development approvals, and create project plans for both infrastructure and experience developments.
We look forward to new nature-based tourism experiences that see more people and using and enjoying SA’s nature, parks and places.