A new fund to help encourage tourism at some of SA's most loved natural landscapes has been formed and will offer grants of up to $50,000 to boost nature-based tourism products and experiences.
The $2-million fund will aim to showcase natural landscapes and to encourage visitors to enjoy and learn more about SA's important natural and cultural assets.
Grants between $10,000-$50,000 will be up for grabs to create new or improve nature-based projects in or near a national park, reserve, wilderness protection area or marine park.
The South Australian Tourism Commission's Experience Nature Tourism Fund is expected to boost SA's visitor economy and spur investment in nature-based tourism experiences while making the state more competitive in luring domestic and international tourists.
Applications to the fund are limited to private sector businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and community associations.
Examples of eligible applications could include the purchase of equipment for experiences such as snorkelling, kayaking, cultural tours, wildlife viewing, and other 'pop up' activities in national parks such as camping.
Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison said this boost for nature-based tourism was about leveraging SA's strengths to attract more visitors from interstate and overseas, while supporting conservation efforts and communities to keep local landscapes beautiful and pristine.
"Through encouraging responsible visitor experiences in and around our state's national parks, we're investing in the future of these stunning destinations to help ensure they remain unspoilt for generations to come.
We also know visitors seek out our wildlife, spectacular coastlines, vast outback, rolling green hills and cultural heritage, so we're building on our assets to recover domestic and international tourism."
On land adjacent to parks, it could also include new or refurbished off-grid accommodation such as tiny homes, cabins and glamping tents, and infrastructure such as toilets and solar power generation.
Applicants will need to demonstrate the benefits the project will deliver to the visitor economy and must also have support from key stakeholders including landowners before making an application.
Grants are available via two funding streams: Stream 1 - Quick Activation Projects with grants available from $10,000 to $20,000; and Stream 2 - Innovative Development Projects with grants ranging from $20,001 to $50,000.
Projects must comply with the statutory management plan for a particular park or reserve, demonstrate care and consideration of the natural and cultural heritage of the proposed site, and operate in accordance with licence requirements set by the Department for Environment and Water.
If the project enters a national park, applicants must have in-principle support from DEW prior to commencing an application.
The funding program runs over four financial years, with up to $500,000 available in each year.
Applications open at 9am on September 5 and will close at 5pm on October 21.
More information: https://tourism.sa.gov.au/support/experience-nature-tourism-fund
