New specialty tours, pop-up and seasonal experiences and events could be set to grace iconic South Australian tourism places thanks to a new $550,000 round in SA government grant funding to activate nature and heritage-based tourism initiatives.
The funding will be available via the $300,000 NatureBased Tourism Small Grants Program and the $250,000 Heritage Tourism Grants Program.
The NatureBased Tourism Small Grants Program is part of the $5 million NatureBased Tourism Co-investment Fund launched in 2020 to help businesses activate or build on existing ecologically sensitive tourism offerings in the state's national parks, reserves, botanic gardens, and Crown land.
Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said this was an exciting new program, providing grants of up to $15,000 for small-scale and innovative projects to support tourism activation in SA, grow the economy and create jobs.
"This is about creating new tourism experiences including seasonal or pop-up ventures, as well as tourism events in parks and public places both in metropolitan and regional SA," he said.
"We've listened to local tourism operators who've expressed an interest in designing and delivering small scale tourism activation projects such as wellness experiences in outstanding nature locations, guided cultural tours, winter campfire storytelling events and easy shuttle transfers for biking and walking experiences.
"This grant program gives tourism operators an opportunity to get these ideas off the ground, without the need to provide matching cash funds, which is a requirement for the larger grants under the fund.
"Adelaide has just been named the third most liveable city in the world and grant programs such as this will only help build on this reputation."
The $250,000 Heritage Tourism Grants program has been established to accelerate the development of heritage tourism experiences and stimulate investment in state heritage places.
"Grants of up to $50,000, provided on a matched funding basis, will support projects to activate state or local heritage-listed places or state heritage areas for tourism purposes," Mr Speirs said.
"This might include adaptation of buildings to comply with accommodation standards, installation of bathrooms and kitchens, new tours of state heritage areas, or the creation of contemporary interpretive experiences.
"This is a key part of the SA government's Growing Our Heritage Future Heritage Tourism Strategy and Action Plan, which was launched in April this year."
Mr Speirs said the program would complement the Heritage Conservation Grants program, which had been in operation since 2018, providing $750,000 in funding to support conservation of state heritage places.
"These new grants will help SA's fantastic tourism operators to create enhanced and diverse experiences and tourism products that not only contribute to positive conservation outcomes but help build our state's visitor economy and create jobs," he said.
"New nature and heritage tourism offerings will strengthen our state's appeal as a destination for unique, immersive and world-class experiences, especially as we transition out of COVID-19 restrictions."
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Meanwhile, a fourth round of the Heritage Conservation Grants Program is also open for applications with a further $250,000 available for grants up to $20,000 for conservation works or documentation on state heritage-listed places.
The program aims to help rejuvenate SA's built heritage by ensuring it is protected and preserved for future generations.
Grants are allocated on a dollar for dollar basis and priority will be given to projects which promote adaptive reuse and benefit the public realm.
"With a total of 227 applications across the first three rounds, it is heartening to see such a genuine interest and passion for renovating and conserving our heritage," Mr Speirs said.
"It is estimated that the government's investment of $750,000 in the first three funding rounds has stimulated around $5.7 million of conservation work."
Applications for the Naturebased Tourism Small Grants Program and the Heritage Tourism Grants Program are open and close on Friday, December 3.
The Heritage Conservation Grants Program is also open and closes Friday, December 10.
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