5 Things Worth Noting About TRIP

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Honourable Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment introduced the new Tourism Restart Investment Program (or TRIP) this week to support the restart of tourism in the NWT, an industry devastated by impacts from COVID-19-related travel restrictions.  

As tourism operators and tourism-related businesses prepare to eventually welcome visitors back to the NWT, the TRIP is now open for applications to fund marketing, staff recruitment and training, and safety upgrades for activities and infrastructure. 

If you own a business in the tourism industry, here are five things you will want to know about the new program.

1. The TRIP is for tourism operators with Tourism Operator Licences (TOL) AND tourism-related businesses

In addition to TOL holders, tourism-related businesses in the NWT can also apply.  This means those businesses that rely on out-of-territory travellers for a significant portion of their income like accommodation providers, restaurants and companies offering entertainment, services and activities for travellers. Qualified non-profit organizations are also welcome to apply.

2. It will support economic benefits beyond tourism  

The TRIP is designed to help restart tourism operators and tourism-related businesses impacted by the travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, ITI hopes it will also support local employment and community economies.  Applicants to the program will be required to use or purchase NWT goods, services and construction. 

3. There is an equity requirement

The TRIP covers 90% of eligible costs and the applicant will be required to contribute cash equity of 10%.  For this program, sweat equity or in-kind contributions will not be considered. 

Here’s how the breakdown will work: The maximum project value that will be considered under the TRIP is $20,000. That would mean a contribution of $18,000 from the TRIP and a $2,000 equity contribution by the applicant. (For $15,000 the split would be $13,500 from TRIP and $1500 in equity; $10,000 would mean $9,000 from TRIP and $1,000 in equity; and $5,000 would mean $4,500 from TRIP and $500 in equity.)

4. It is the fourth in a series of support programs designed to support the NWT Tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic

Prior to introducing the TRIP, the GNWT collaborated with the Government of Canada to aid in the recovery of tourism companies with the Growth and Recovery by Investing in Tourism (GRIT) Fund; and to provide relief for tourism businesses and accommodation providers respectively through the Pandemic Relief Extension Program (PREP) and Supplement for Tourism Accommodation Relief (STAR) Program initiatives. 

That said, any costs already covered by these programs will not be eligible under the TRIP. Applicants who have benefited from the PREP or the STAR Program may be required to submit documentation for the mid-term check-in with their TRIP application. 

5. The deadline for applications is October 20, 2021

A completed application will need to be submitted to your regional ITI Tourism Development Officer by this date. (Forms are available online at www.iti.gov.nt.ca/TRIP). 

To be considered ‘complete’, an application will need to be supported by: 

  • A one-page description of how the funding will be used;
  • An itemized budget; and 
  • Any supporting documents (like quotes for goods or estimates from contractors and consultants). 

If you are interested in applying for the new Tourism Restart Investment Program (or TRIP), please click on the program guidelines or the fillable application form.   

You’ll find them and the required application form here.