Year of Accessible Tourism update
Posted on June 13th, 2023
We are reaching the halfway mark of the Year of Accessible Tourism. It has been great to see the interest and engagement across the tourism industry in responding to the call to action.
Don’t forget the support and resources available as part of the Queensland Government’s $12M investment in the Year of Accessible Tourism.
$1M Boosting Accessible Tourism Experiences grants
Closing date: 30 June.
There are three weeks to go until applications for the $1M Boosting Accessible Tourism Experiences grants close. Applications are assessed as they are received and we’re already seeing tourism operators benefiting from this funding.
Grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 (GST exclusive) are available to tourism and events businesses employing fewer than 20 employees to develop and/or enhance existing tourism products or infrastructure to develop more accessible visitor experiences and enhance accessibility for tourism workers.
Grant funding may cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs and must be matched by the recipient.
Minimum project value is $10,000 and the types of projects that may be considered include, but are not limited to:
- upgrades/enhancements to existing tourism infrastructure/products
- interpretative or interactive tourism signage
- purchase of adaptive and assistive equipment and technology
- modification of touring vehicles or vessels
- improvements to websites, signage, traditional and digital marketing materials to be more accessible
- augmented reality, virtual reality or extended reality to improve accessibility
- assistive listening devices technology incorporated into speakers/sound systems
- aquatic wheelchairs, beach access mats and/or supporting infrastructure
- Braille descriptions, signage, Easy English picture communication symbols, stories or sensory friendly environments
- keyless entry, sensor/voice/movement-controlled technology
An application may incorporate multiple components / project activities listed in Appendix 2 of the Guidelines.
For further information or to apply by 30 June 2023, please visit https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/funds
Accessible Tourism Toolkit
For tourism operators wanting to know where to start, the Accessible Tourism Toolkit is available on the DTIS website and provides checklists and guides for tourism businesses on how to make their experience more accessible.
Business can make an impactful start by ensuring their website is updated with useful information for visitors that may have accessibility requirements. The checklists provide a useful guide on what information to include.
https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/accessible-tourism/accessible-tourism-toolkit
Free online webinars
As part of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism, Get Skilled Access is delivering free online accessible tourism webinars for Queensland tourism businesses. With topics covering Accessible Web and Online Content Design, Inclusive Recruitment and Accessibility Adjustment and Universal Design, these interactive webinars are a fantastic way for businesses to learn about improving accessibility from experts in the field.
https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/accessible-tourism/accessible-tourism-webinars
These initiatives are part of the Queensland Government’s $12 million investment in the Year of Accessible Tourism to enhance and develop accessible tourism and raise awareness of 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.
Other opportunities to support accessible tourism
Growing Regions Program – Round 1 applications open 5 JULY TO 1 AUGUST 2023
The Australian Government’s Growing Regions Program – Round 1 will deliver grants of
$500,000 to $15 million to cover 50% or more of eligible expenditure.
The program is for incorporated non-profit organisations, First Nations Community Controlled
Organisations and local government agencies or bodies in regional areas.
It will deliver community and economic benefits by investing in community-focused infrastructure
to revitalise regions, enhancing amenity and liveability throughout regional Australia.
In the two-stage selection process, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest at Stage 1,
and if successful, will be invited to submit a full application for Stage 2.
Growing Regions Program Round 1 | business.gov.au
