Grants open to support businesses in 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism
Posted on March 21st, 2023
Yesterday (Tuesday, 21 March 2023) the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement announced the opening of two grants under the $10 million Accessible Tourism Queensland Fund, a key initiative as part of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism.
An online briefing will be scheduled later this week to discuss these grants, but in the meantime you can find information in the media release here and also below:
The two grants opening today (21 March 2023) are:
- $8 million Accessible Tourism Infrastructure grants: Funding between $25,000 and $500,000 (excluding GST) to established Queensland tourism and events businesses with up to 200 employees to make accessibility improvements to their tourism infrastructure and products. This grant will support projects such as:
- the development or upgrade of existing tourism infrastructure/products to provide more accessible visitor experiences and/or enhance accessibility for tourism workers
- accessibility modification of transport and touring vehicles or vessels
- adaptive and assistive technology that can maximise the visitor experience
- augmented reality, virtual reality or extended reality to improve accessibility
- support technology infrastructure that services different accessibility needs
- sensory friendly environments and space
- keyless entry, sensor/voice/movement-controlled technology and stair lifts.
- $1 million Accessible Tourism Enablers grants: Funding of between $50,000 and $250,000 (excluding GST) are available to develop resources and products that tourism and events business in Queensland can use to make their experience more accessible and inclusive. This grant will support:
- peak not-for-profit accessible and disability-specific service organisations to develop resources and products that tourism and events business in Queensland can use to make their experience more accessible and inclusive.
- Examples include the development of products that can be used by tourism and events businesses to create more accessible websites, guides or images/videos, adaptive and assistive equipment and technology that can maximise the visitor experience and disability action plan templates.
Applications are open until 31 May 2023 for both grants.
These grants are part of the Queensland Government’s $12 million investment in the Year of Accessible Tourism to support delivery of a package of initiatives to enhance and develop accessible tourism projects and to raise awareness about accessible tourism experiences in Queensland. The Year of Accessible Tourism supports key actions in the Towards Tourism 2032 – Transforming Queensland’s visitor economy future, a tourism industry strategy.
For further information
Guidelines: Accessible Tourism Infrastructure grants and Accessible Tourism Enablers grants are available on the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport website and provide detailed information on eligibility and how to apply. https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/funds
