03 May 2024 Media Release: Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities visits beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund
Media Release: Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities visits beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund
For immediate release
03 May 2024
On Monday, 29 April 2024, the Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Ms Mireille Wenger, paid a visit to some of the beneficiaries of the Tourism Development Fund in the Garden Route, Mossel Bay, namely; Nova Hot Air Balloons and The Skipper Foundation.
Whilst in Mossel Bay MEC Wenger also paid a visit to The Mossel Bay cruise port to discuss some of the future expansion plans of the Mossel Bay port for cruise tourism with the port management and Mossel Bay Trading Hub. With the Western Cape Governments’ assistance to small businesses at the trading hub in relation to alternative energy solutions to ensure business continuity during loadshedding, the MEC was joined by the Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Memory Booysen, and Mossel Bay Councillor, Cllr Anton Dellemijn.
What is The Tourism Product Development Fund?
The Tourism Product Development Fund supports the development of new tourism products and experiences and/or major upgrading of existing tourism products and experiences to increase the Western Cape’s destination attractiveness to visitors.
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) requested organisations and businesses from both private and public organisations to apply for project funding via the Tourism Product Development Fund.
The Tourism Product Development initiative seeks to develop new or existing tourism products and experiences within the Western Cape. The Fund supported new or existing tourism products and experiences that address gaps and opportunities identified by the draft Tourism Blueprint 2030. A total of R 5 million was made available for disbursement during the 2022/2023 government fiscal year by the Western Cape Government.
Additional: The Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Tourism Growth Fund is open to receive fund applications.
Click here to visit the dedicated web page for DEDAT’s Tourism Growth Fund for more information and to apply online.
The Tourism Growth Fund – APPLY TODAY!
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is requesting organisations implementing tourism development projects or programmes in the categories of Tourism Infrastructure Support and Tourism Product Development Support to apply for project funding via the Tourism Growth Fund. The Fund will provide financial support to development programmes and projects that benefit Western Cape-based tourism attractions and businesses. A total of R4 million is available in 2024 for disbursement to successful applicants.
Applications and criteria:
- Applicants must complete the online application form and will be required to upload all of the requested supporting documents. The submitted proposals must be structured toward one of the following categories:
- Category 1: Tourism Infrastructure Support Initiatives with a focus on upgrading high visitor volume attractions.
- Category 2: Tourism Product Development Support Initiatives with a focus on assisting tourism enterprises (specifically small, medium, and micro enterprises) with tourism product development.
- Only applications submitted via the online process will be considered. No emailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered.
- Thoroughly read the application guidelines before completing the online application. All sections in the application form are mandatory.
- We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the online form so that you have the necessary information at hand when completing your application. You can refer to the attached document for an electronic copy of the form, as well as the call for proposals.
There is no closing date, however funds are subject to availability. Don’t delay, apply today!
For more information, contact Lindy Cambouris on 021 483 6527 or G4JTourismFund@westerncape.gov.za
ENDS