Program closed
Applications for the Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 are now closed.
Program overview
The Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 is supporting regional and rural Victorian tourism projects to reach investment-ready status by funding planning activities such as feasibility studies and design for future investment.
This fund will help to deliver a strong pipeline of demand-driving tourism infrastructure projects across Victoria.
The fund will deliver two grant streams:
- Stream 1 – Testing the Concept: between $20,000 and $500,000 (excl. GST) for a project to test the concept of a new infrastructure project, such as a feasibility study, master plan or business case.
- Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment: between $20,000 and $500,000 (excl. GST) to prepare a combination of materials to ensure that a project is ready for infrastructure investment. These could include a detailed design package, funding strategy, or stakeholder and community engagement plans.
Applications for the Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 are now closed.
Grant eligibility criteria
Grant applications for the Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 are open to:
- Projects delivered in locations covered by existing Regional Tourism Boards and Visitor Economy Partnerships as listed on Industry partners | Tourism and Events, and specific interim entities that are recognised by DJSIR – Tourism and Events as being part of the regional tourism network
- Projects in regional and rural Victoria
- Projects that provide tourism benefit in Victoria.
Applicants must be one of the following types of entities to apply:
- Private sector proponents (defined as a privately‑owned or commercial organisation that has overall control and responsibility for a project that is predominantly funded through private capital)
- Local and State Government entities, based in Victoria including:
- Public Land Managers
- Land Management Authorities and Committees of Management
- Local Government Authorities
- A Victorian Alpine Resort (such as one of the 6 alpine resorts are legally incorporated under the Alpine Resorts (Management) Act 1997 and managed by Alpine Resorts Victoria)
- State or Local Government owned entities
- Incorporated associations
- Not‑for‑profit organisations, including community groups that are an incorporated body, cooperative or association
- Traditional Owner Corporations, organisations and groups, and Aboriginal‑owned businesses.
In addition, to be eligible for funding applicants must:
- Possess an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be financially solvent.
Where an entity is not incorporated, an auspicing arrangement may be considered. The applicant is still required to meet all other eligibility criteria.
Project types eligible for funding include:
Stream 1 – Testing the Concept
- Business case development
- Feasibility studies
- Master planning including concept design
- Market testing and assessments
- Site analysis.
Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment
A combination of the following that delivers a project ready for infrastructure investment:
- Detailed design package
- Quantity Surveying Report
- Relevant technical investigations, plans and reports to progress the project for example; universal design, environmental and sustainability plans, Cultural Heritage Management Plans, quantity surveying, traffic management
- Stakeholder and community engagement plan and implementation
- Operational viability studies
- Investment prospectus development
- Developing a funding strategy.
Grant amount
Subject to meeting the Program eligibility criteria, applicants may apply for funding under one the following streams:
| Funding options | Available funding |
|---|---|
Stream 1 – Testing the Concept | Between $20,000 and $500,000 (excl. GST) |
Stream 2 – Preparing for Investment | Between $20,000 and $500,000 (excl. GST) |
Program guidelines
Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 — Program guidelines (PDF 681.24 KB) 
Enabling Tourism Fund 2024 — Program guidelines (DOCX 102.51 KB) 
Supporting templates
Enabling Tourism Fund – Project plan template (DOCX 1481.58 KB)
In-Kind and voluntary support – Form and factsheet (DOCX 959.15 KB)
Profit, loss and cashflow projections template (XLSX 621.98 KB) 
Supporting documents
For further resources to assist you in your application, please visit Tourism and Events Project Facilitation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Please read the full list of FAQs.
How to apply
Please read all the information on this page, the program guidelines, and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) before applying.
Applications for both Stream 1 and Stream 2 closed at 5pm on 28 March 2024.
If you have further questions regarding the Enabling Tourism Fund, please contact tourism.projects@ecodev.vic.gov.au.