A multi-million dollar scheme that provides Territory roadhouses and wayside inns up to $150,000 to improve their visitor experience has opened.
As part of Budget 2020 Territory’s Job First Plan, the Territory Labor Government is investing $4 million in to the Territory Small Business Roadhouse to Recovery Grant program.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Natasha Fyles said that with domestic travel and tourism changing dramatically off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, drive holidays, where wayside inns and roadhouses are heavily utilised, were increasing in popularity.
The program aims to assist regional and remote wayside inns and roadhouse operators undertake infrastructure projects to:
- Improve the on-ground visitor experience in the Northern Territory; and
- Encourage visitors particularly those undertaking a driving holiday to stay in remote regions longer.
Wayside inns and roadhouses in the Territory can apply for grants up to $150,000 for infrastructure improvements.
For each $1 invested by the operator, the government will tip in $3,with up to a maximum of $150,000 from the government towards a visitor experience enhancement project.
“The Tourism and Hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, and we are doing everything we can to help businesses capitalise and bounce back, recognising the importance of the drive market,” said Minister Fyles.
“By improving our wayside inns and roadhouses we not only grow our tourism drive market and encourage visitors to stay in remote regions longer, we provide a much-needed boost to small business owners and create jobs through infrastructure upgrades.”
The Minister said priority would be given to projects from remote wayside inns and roadhouses that demonstrate the greatest need for visitor enhancement.
Applications open today, 19 November 2020 and close 4pm, 14 January 2021.
For more information including grant guidelines and to apply visit www.grantsnt.nt.gov.au