Tourism grants OPEN, next comes boarders...
Palaszcuk’s stance on our borders has been widely reported. There are views from both sides of the fence, that this stance has curbed the spread. Fact is, with 85% of QLD’s visitors being from NSW and Victoria, this stance has significantly impacted the hospitality and tourism sector.
Our borders are set to open soon and, in preparation, the QLD and Commonwealth governments will jab $110 million worth of grants into the tourism and hospitality sectors to eligible businesses.
There are two grants on offer:
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Grant
With an aim to help small, medium and large-sized Queensland tourism and hospitality businesses preserve jobs and remain open there will be three different levels of grants depending on the size of the applicants payroll size.
To be eligible, businesses must be:
Open and operating in Queensland in the tourism and hospitality sector (check the eligible ANZSIC class codes):
must be solvent;
have an annual turnover of over $75,000 and employ at least one full-time worker (other than the business owner);
able to demonstrate a revenue loss of 70% or more over any seven-day period between 1 July and 30 September 2021 compared to the same period in any of the last three financial years; and
have experienced significant impacts in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and interstate lockdowns to your Queensland operations.
For the full guidelines, eligibility criteria and evidence criteria click here ( guidelines (PDF, 276.5KB)
Levels of support available:
Business Type |
Queensland Annual |
First Payment (excl. GST) |
Second Payment (excl. GST) |
Total Available Funding (excl. GST) |
Eligible employing small tourism and hospitality businesses and non-profit organisations |
Less than $1.3 million |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$30,000 |
Eligible employing medium tourism and hospitality businesses and non-profit organisations |
$1.3 million and $10 million inclusive |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$50,000 |
Eligible employing large tourism and hospitality businesses and non-profit organisations |
More than $10 million |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$100,000 |
For an entity that has been trading for less than one financial year, the maximum amount of assistance payable under the Grant is $30,000.
Approved grant funding will be paid in 2 equal instalments.
How to apply
To apply, complete the steps below.
Read the guidelines (PDF, 276.5KB) and frequently asked questions (PDF, 271.7KB).
Prepare your supporting evidence to submit with your application.
Complete and submit your application through the QRIDA portal. (if you don’t already have a QRIDA portal profile you will need to create one on the ‘Register’ tab on their website)
Approved applicants for the First Payment can submit eligibility confirmation for their Second Payment between Monday 8 November 2021 to 6pm Monday 6 December 2021.
Applications opened on Monday 11 October 2021, and will close 6pm Monday 22 November 2021. Completed applications will be processed in the order they are received.
Major Tourism Experiences Hardship Grant
Major tourism attractions and experiences may be eligible for grants of up to $4 million for Queensland business expenses including direct salary costs for existing employees. Eligible businesses must have an annual turnover for their Queensland operations of at least $25 million and be experiencing significant financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions and interstate lockdowns.
The $30 million program will ensure eligible major tourism businesses remain in business, retain staff and skills and are ready to scale up when visitation returns to Queensland!
Eligible businesses will need to meet all specified thresholds in terms of their annual turnover in Queensland, impacts from COVID-19 restrictions, ANZSIC industry codes and the number of people they employ in Queensland.
For the full guidelines, eligibility criteria and evidence criteria click here.
Stay Safe QLD – Shake tax, not hands
Get in touch with m+h Private tax specialists today on +61 3036 7174 if you need support for you and your business.
As always, the above is general in nature, and the details may change, please discuss with your trusted advisor.