Overview
Funding to re-invent, improve or expand a tourism product or service to meet future market demand. Includes funding for business planning, product development and packaging as well as marketing and safety upgrades.
This program has been updated to better suit the needs of the NWT tourism industry. For funding under Schedules 2 and 3, businesses must complete a Business, Market and Trade Ready Standard self-assessment.
However, since this is the first year of the updated program, the self-assessment will not be required until the fall 2025 intake. For the January 2025 intake, businesses can apply for the maximum funding under each schedule, regardless of their BMT readiness score.
Funding limits for schedules 2 and 3 are determined based on the applicant’s Business Market Trade Standards business level (BMT).
In order to determine your BMT level (Business Ready, Market Ready or Travel Trade Ready) please visit www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/TourismReady to find the evaluation materials.
Funding Available
TPDMP support is divided into 4 schedules. Applicants may apply on any or all schedules in any given year:
Schedule 1: Business Planning and Transition Assistance
- Up to $20,000 is available per application.
- Used to develop business case for new products or to improve existing products with the goal of attracting new clients and increase spending.
- Costs may include consulting fees and other costs:
- to get a Tourism Operator License or
- for the development of a tourism business plan.
Schedule 2: Product Development and Enhancement
- Up to $150,000 per application.
- The maximum contribution amount depends on the applicant’s Business Market Trade Standards business level.
- Up to $25,000 in contribution assistance for Business Ready applicants
- Up to $75.000 in contribution assistance for Market Ready applicants
- Up to $150,000 in contribution assistance for Travel Trade Ready applicants
- Funds may be applied towards the development of tourism business plans intended to launch a new product or enhance existing products with the intent of increasing revenues to Tourism Businesses and/or attracting new visitors to the NWT.
- Costs may include:
- new tourism infrastructure engineering and technical feasibility assessments
- upgrading services or amenities to attract a new market or expand appeal to existing market, or
- development costs associated with new tourism product packages.
- Applicants who have received $250,000 over 5 years can re-apply after five years from the receipt of the most recent contribution.
Schedule 3: Marketing Assistance for Tourism Businesses
- Up to $15,000 is available per application.
- The maximum contribution amount depends on the applicant’s Business Market Trade Standards business level
- Up to $7,500 in contribution assistance for Business ready applicants
- Up to $10,000 in contribution assistance for Market ready applicants
- Up to $15,000 in contribution assistance for Travel Trade ready applicants
- Funds can be used for marketing projects in line with the Northwest Territories Tourism Marketing Strategy
- Costs may include:
- development of marketing materials,
- cooperative marketing opportunities,
- development/launch of campaigns,
- development/modification to websites, and
- costs to attend travel trade and consumer shows (available to Market and Trade Ready businesses only)
Schedule 4: Safety
- Up to $10,000 is available per applicant.
- Funds may be applied towards ensuring the safety of visitors while they are engaged in a guided tourism activity.
- Costs may include:
- maintenance that requires the services of licensed mechanic or tradespeople or
- costs associated with physical upgrades to infrastructure and/or equipment.
Deadline
Application deadline January 29th, 2025
Eligibility
The following are encouraged to apply:
- NWT Licensed Tourism Operators
- NWT Businesses, economic development agencies, and communities.
- Indigenous Government or Organizations.
Please see the Guidelines to see what equity the applicant is expected to bring to the project.
How to apply
It is strongly recommended that you contact your regional Tourism Development Officer to discuss your idea before the development of your proposal.
- Complete the BMT self-evaluation.
- Fill in an application for each TPDMP schedule you are applying for:
- Schedule 1: Business Planning and Transition Assistance - Application Form
- Schedule 2: Product Development and Enhancement - Application Form
- Schedule 3: Marketing Assistance for Tourism Businesses - Application Form
- Schedule 4: Safety - Application Form
- Send the completed application form(s) and BMT Self-evaluation to your regional office.
Contacts
North Slave Regional Office
Tel: (867) 767-9212 Email: Tourism_NorthSlave@gov.nt.ca
South Slave Regional Office
Tel: (867) 872-8046 Email: Tourism_SouthSlave@gov.nt.ca
Dehcho Regional Office
Tel: (867) 695-7500 Email: Tourism_Dehcho@gov.nt.ca
Sahtu Regional Office
Tel: (867) 587-7171 Email: Tourism_Sahtu@gov.nt.ca
Beaufort Delta Regional Office
Tel: (867) 678-8023 Email: Tourism_BeaufortDelta@gov.nt.ca
