Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
Last Update: July 22, 2025
Canada
Tourism Relief Fund offers financial support for tourism growth
Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Loans and Capital investments
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
Grant Providers
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Program status
Open
Overview of the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program
The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) provides $500 million over two years to support tourism businesses and organizations in adapting their operations to meet public health requirements and to enhance existing tourism experiences. The program covers a wide range of eligible activities, including modernizing operations, developing sustainable tourism products, and supporting local and Indigenous tourism initiatives.
Financing terms and conditions
- For for-profit businesses: non-repayable contributions up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $100,000, or repayable contributions up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $500,000 (a business cannot receive both types for the same project).
- For non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities (not generating profits): non-repayable contributions up to a maximum of $500,000.
- No recipient will normally receive funding for more than one project, and project contribution amounts will not normally exceed $500,000.
Eligible projects & activities
- Development and enhancement of tourism products and experiences to attract more local and domestic visitors.
- Modernization of tourism businesses, including adopting environmentally sustainable practices and digital enhancements.
- Support for businesses to adapt operations and infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements.
- Strategic planning and implementation of sustainable tourism plans for communities, including destination development initiatives.
- Initiatives to extend tourism activity into off-peak seasons and re-activate downtown cores or main streets.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 340,000
Revitalizing Vancouver's Chinatown with cultural tourism initiatives
$ 150,000
Developing sustainable tourism activities’s waterfront area
$ 145,000
Developing winter tourism experiences
$ 250,000
Establishing a winter festival to attract off-season tourism
$ 100,000
Implementing inclusive tourism services
$ 300,000
Enhancing online booking and virtual tour capabilities at Toronto Museum
Eligibility criteria of the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program
- The applicant must be part of the tourism ecosystem and cater mainly to visitors (not local residents).
- Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses (primarily small and medium-sized enterprises), not-for-profit incorporated organizations, municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations and related parties, and Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses or Indigenous organizations.
- The organization must qualify as one or more of the following: a key supplier/operator in the visitor experience, part of a defined tourism cluster, or an anchor product in a destination.
- The project must be located in the Prairies region.
- The applicant must submit a fully completed application by the specified deadline.
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated tourism businesses, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Not-for-profit incorporated organizations (including tourism associations and destination marketing organizations)
- Municipalities, municipal organizations, Crown corporations and related parties
- Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses or Indigenous organizations (including Indigenous-led not-for-profits)
Who is not eligible
- Restaurants (except in exceptional cases where they are considered anchor products attracting tourists to the region, assessed case-by-case)
- Retail sector businesses
- Hotel chains (except for Canadian-owned hotels considered as anchor products, assessed case-by-case)
Eligible expenses
- Costs related to creating, adapting, and enhancing protocols and permanent infrastructure to meet health and safety requirements for visitors and employees.
- Expenses associated with modernizing operations, attractions, greening initiatives, and online sales services.
- Costs for supporting businesses with local promotion of tourism products, including digital and virtual reality experiences.
- Expenditures for staff training to develop more inclusive tourism experiences, such as creating welcoming environments and gender-neutral facilities.
- Support for implementing tourism plans, creating or improving local assets, facilities, and key infrastructure.
- Expenses for developing and executing sustainable tourism plans based on research and market analysis.
- Costs related to the extension of product offerings to increase visitation during winter and shoulder seasons.
- Expenditures for activities to animate downtown cores, main streets, and business districts (e.g., public art, mixed-use spaces).
- Expenses for scale-up and market expansion activities for key tourism enterprises.
Eligible geographic areas
- Applicants located in the Prairies region of Canada (specifically Alberta, Manitoba, or Saskatchewan).
Eligibility criteria of the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program
- Alignment of the project with the program’s objectives and focus areas, such as development and enhancement of tourism experiences or destination development.
- Plausibility and significance of the projected economic benefits, including job creation and increased tourism activity.
- Strategic importance of the applicant’s organization or project to the tourism sector in the region.
- Contribution of the project to the economic development and job creation in the region.
- Priority consideration for projects supporting the Indigenous tourism sector or undertaken in tourism-dependent communities or regions.
How to apply to the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) program
1
Preparation
- Review the program guidelines to determine eligibility.
- Gather necessary organizational details and documents required for the application.
2
Complete Application Form
- Fill out detailed organization information including legal name, address, and incorporation details.
- Provide project information such as project title, description, and timelines.
- Specify primary and secondary contacts for the project.
- Detail funding requirements, project costs, and cash flows.
- Specify any project partnerships and economic benefits expected from the project.
3
Attach Required Documents
Upload supporting documents such as financial statements, project plans, and any other required documentation.
4
Submit Application
- Submit the completed application form and attached documents through the PrairiesCan portal.
- Confirm that all mandatory fields are completed before submission.
5
Application Confirmation
- Upon successful submission, check the "My Submissions" tab for confirmation.
- Retain any confirmation details for your records.
Additional information
- Applicants can save their application in progress and return to complete it under the "My Applications" tab before submission.
- All required documents, including financial statements for the past two years and at least six months of interim statements, must be uploaded with the application.
- Economic and diversity outcomes should be substantiated with reasonable assumptions and supporting data within the application.
- A PDF summary of the application can be accessed after submission for record-keeping purposes.
Contact Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
wd.ab-ab.deo@prairiescan.gc.ca
780-495-4164
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