On Thursday 10 February 2022, the Premier announced a $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package for sectors significantly affected by the delay to a full border reopening as a result of the Omicron variant.
This package includes support for eligible businesses in the tourism sector, designed to support the cash flow of businesses and partially offset some of the additional costs or lost revenues as a result of the adjusted border reopening.
There are four programs applicable to the tourism industry. Tourism WA is administering three of these programs.
The four programs available to the tourism industry are:
- $20 million Tourism Support Program – to provide immediate assistance of $10,000 to sole traders and $20,000 to employing businesses that have incurred expenses in preparation for the initially scheduled full border opening on 5 February;
- $15 million Tourism Deposit Refund Program – to provide immediate assistance of up to $50,000 to eligible tourism businesses that have refunded deposits from some cancelled interstate and international bookings;
- $10 million boost to the existing Aviation Recovery Fund, originally announced as part of the Reconnect WA package – taking the total in this fund to $75 million; and
- $3 million Travel Agent Support Fund – offering payments of up to $10,000 for eligible home-based businesses and $20,000 payments to eligible brick-and-mortar businesses.
Eligible businesses will be able to apply for funding through Tourism WA for the three of these programs detailed below. For further information on how to apply for other Safe Transition Industry Support Package programs, please visit: wa.gov.au.
Tourism operators will only be eligible to apply for one of the programs below – not multiple. Program Guidelines and application forms are available below.
$15 million Tourism Deposit Refund Program
Please note, applications
to the WA Tourism Deposit Refund Program have now closed.
Opens : 2pm Friday 25 February, 2022
Closes : 3pm Thursday 31 March, 2022
Eligible businesses that have refunded interstate and international deposits on bookings as a result of changes to border control measures from February 5 may be eligible for funding to support their total refunds, up to $50,000.
To be eligible, businesses must:
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in forward bookings over the period 5 February to 5 May 2022 (or an alternative 3 month period for seasonal businesses);
- Be an active member of the WA tourism industry through membership or accreditation of identified tourism organisations;
- Have business premise located in WA; and
- Have a turnover greater than $50,000.
WA Tourism Deposit Refund Program Guidelines & FAQs click here
WA Tourism Deposit Refund Program Application Form click here
$20 million Tourism Support Program
Please note, applications to the WA Tourism
Support Program have now closed.
Application window has been extended. See Addendum 1 released 31 March 2022
Opens : 2pm Friday 25 February, 2022
Closes : 3pm Friday 29 April, 2022
This program is for expenses incurred by eligible tourism businesses in preparation for the border reopening. Sole traders may be eligible for a one-off payment of $10,000 under this program, or $20,000 for employing businesses.
This program will support all eligible tourism operators who have had substantial sustained downturn and were readying their business for the return of visitors on 5 February.
To be eligible businesses need to:
- Demonstrate a minimum reduction of 30 per cent in turnover between the 2018-19 and 2020-21 financial years;
- Be an active member of the WA tourism industry through membership or accreditation of identified tourism organisations;
- Have business premise located in WA; and
- A turnover greater than $50,000.
WA Tourism Support Program Guidelines & FAQs click here
WA Tourism Support Program Addendum 1 click here
WA Tourism Support Program Application Form click here
$3 million Travel Agent Support Fund
Please note, applications to the WA Travel Agents Support Fund
have now closed.
Opens : 10.30am Friday 4 March, 2022
Closes : 3pm Friday 8 April, 2022
This program involves grants of:
- $5,000 to $10,000 for eligible home-based businesses (dependant on commission levels); and
- $20,000 for eligible brick-and-mortar businesses.
To be eligible businesses need to:
- Demonstrate a minimum 30 per cent reduction in turnover between 2018-19 to 2020-21;
- Be an active and registered travel agent with ABN; an
- Be a small business that is WA-based.
WA Travel Agents Support Fund Guidelines & FAQs click here
WA Travel Agents Support Fund Application Form click here
WA Tourism and Travel Agent Support Fund 2021