A segment of the Tourism Industry now eligible for Enterprise Connect grants

The Australian government has announced that a sector of the Tourism Industry is now eligible to seek assistance from Enterprise Connect.  To be eligible, the Tourism sector must derive a significant portion of its turnover from tourist accommodation, tourist attractions, wineries, tour operations and travel agency services.

 

To be eligible for support under the Enterprise Connect programme, businesses must derive a significant portion of their revenue from tourists who are defined as 'people who have travelled for a round trip distance of at least 50km from home' and would either cease to exist in its present form, or would be significantly affected if tourism were to cease.  Grants from Enterprise Connect are not available to those businesses whose primary trade is retail, cafe/restaurants or take away food suppliers.  An eligible business must have a minimum turnover of $1M.  The maximum turnover allowed for an applicant is $100M.  The business must have filed Business Activity Statements for at least three consecutive years, must be solvent and not have previously received a Business Review under the Enterprise Connect programme.  Assistance can be given by Enterprise Connect for a range of activities including:

  • strategic business reviews

  • human resources reviews

  • internal systems

  • production/operational

  • advertising and marketing

  • financial management issues

  • exploring new markets

  • product and service development

An eligible business can submit an application to Enterprise Connect.  If the application is approved by Enterprise Connect you will then be offered a 'business review', which is undertaken by an Enterprise Connect Business Adviser and, at the conclusion of the free business review, (which can take 2 to 3 days) Enterprise Connect will then advise whether the business is eligible for a Tailored Advisory Service programme which covers the abovementioned activities with subsidy of up to $20,000, on a 50/50 basis.

 If you would like to discuss with Collins Hume the possibility of applying for assistance from Enterprise Connect for the tourism sector please contact us on 02 6686 3000.