The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the activities of regional destination marketing organizations across Nova Scotia and around the world. Many of these organizations depend on accommodation levies and membership fees to operate, and travel restrictions have left them in challenging situations.

The Tourism Marketing Assistance Program for Regional Marketing will distribute a total of $1.8 million to support organizations responsible for promoting and marketing a recognized tourism region as they inspire travel to and around their specific areas of the province.

*If you are an accommodation operator, please see the Tourism Marketing Assistance Program for Accommodations.

Eligibility

• Organizations responsible for promoting and marketing a recognized tourism region/within a recognized tourism region on behalf of communities/businesses/members. The recognized tourism regions are: Halifax, South Shore, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, Annapolis Valley and Bay of Fundy, Eastern Shore, Northumberland Shores, and Cape Breton.
• Organizations must be in good standing with the Provincial Registry of Joint Stock Companies and Tourism Nova Scotia and have no outstanding legal claims or possible legal claims.
• Organizations must be in compliance with all relevant federal, provincial, and municipal laws, regulations, by-laws, and permits.
• Organizations must include a plan that demonstrates how they would use their requested funding.
• If there are multiple organizations working to promote tourism within a recognized tourism region, those organizations are encouraged to collaborate to submit one application for their region. 
• If there is no organization that represents an entire tourism region, applications will be considered from organizations that promote an area within that region with the goal to ensure all regions are represented.

Eligible Activities

Eligible marketing activities include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• planning and development
• advertising campaigns
• content creation
• co-investment in partnership activities with TNS and other partners.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate that they will include the following:

• Promotion of museums, arts and culture, and events 

How to Apply

Applications for this program closed on Friday, March 18 at 4p.m.

• Organizations must have completed the online application form to be considered for funding. 
• Representatives from Tourism Nova Scotia’s marketing and development teams will review applications and determine funding allocations, taking into consideration:
  • planned activities and their potential to positively impact regional tourism growth and development 
  • the applicant’s capacity to deliver on planned initiatives/campaigns
  • dispersion of funds throughout the province to ensure all regions benefit 

Contact 

TMAP@novascotia.ca