Tourism Relief Fund Overview

ITO’s 34 Ultimate Recipients are currently underway with their respective Tourism Relief Projects. We have had a tremendous response to the TRF program and with limited funding available, the process was quite competitive. ITO deeply values the amount of time, thought and resources all our applicants spent in preparing their organization’s application for this program. If you were not successful with ITO’s Tourism Relief Fund, please note this is not a reflection of the merit of your business or idea. The TRF Program is a specific funding envelope with a specific set of criteria established by the Federal government. ITO, alongside our partners, continues to advocate fiercely for the Indigenous tourism industry and the ongoing need for support. We tentatively anticipate more opportunities for financial support in the future.

We recommend working with your Indigenous Business Advisor to polish your plan and budget so that if and when more resources become available, you will be ready to apply with a “shovel-ready” project.

Main Project Themes

Develop Programming
Product Development
Enhance Infrastructure

Capacity and Physical Expansions
Workforce development
Digital Enhancements

In Southern Ontario, ITO collaborated with local Regional Tourism Organizations (RTO)’s to administer the Tourism Relief Fund. 11 Indigenous Tourism Relief Fund projects were referred and approved by local RTOs, totalling an additional $970,584 Indigenous Tourism projects funded

11Projects referred to and approved by Regional Tourism Organizations

$970,584TOTAL VALUE REFERRED

ITO Indigenous Business Advisors offered free advisory services during the TRF process. All Indigenous Tourism Ontario ultimate recipients and projects referred to and approved by Regional Tourism Organizations are still actively receiving free IBA support to assist in the contracting period, understanding the claims process, and reporting requirements for the Tourism Relief Fund.

ITO’s IBA program is funded in support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor Ontario) and through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

78Applicants requested and received support from an IBA

83%Of total applicants received IBA support

ITO Collaborated with various industry partners during the Tourism Relief Fund process. Through cooperation, ITO was able to see through the tourism relief fund administration with the support of the following partners:

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUPPORT

ITO’s TRF support for Northern Ontario is made possible by the Government of Canada through the FederalEconomic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor Ontario).

ITO’s TRF support for Southern Ontario is made possible by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Review Panel Support

Indigenous Tourism Ontario’s ultimate recipients were selected through an external review panel that was tasked with evaluating project applications by assessing their eligibility criteria and project alignment. The panel included members from across Ontario with expertise in tourism, Indigenous tourism, and economic development. Specifically, the following organizations participated in the external review panel:

ABORIGINAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (AFIs)

ABORIGINAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (AFIs)

Regional Tourism Organizations

Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) is proud to have worked with select Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) across Southern Ontario to deliver the Tourism Relief Fund in support of the Indigenous tourism industry. All Southern Ontario RTO’s were engaged in the process.