Grants for hospitality businesses are commonly funded by the state governments individually. These grants are aimed at boosting the hospitality and tourism industry. However, the Australian Government too have sanctioned some grants in a view to improvise the hospitality business that has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants for Australia’s Exhibiting Aquariums and Zoos
The Australian Government in April 2020 announced a grant of $94.6 million towards Supporting Australia’s Exhibiting Zoos and Aquariums Program and it was announced that the program will run for the next 6 months. This grant is part of the earlier announced $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund aimed at helping regions and communities and sectors that are worse affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The same program was given an extension of 6 months on 28 October 2020 by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. The grant can be claimed by those zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums who were badly hit due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Eligibility criteria:
- Must be a region, state or national level organization which has a proven record of conserving and presenting animals and promote interstate as well as international visitation
- Must be registered in Australia
- New entrants/applicants are ineligible
Queensland COVID-19 Marine Tourism Rebate
Like all other businesses, the tourism and events sector of Queensland too has been impacted considerably by the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant is a part of relief package announced by the Queensland Government with an aim to extend relief, providing support to the tourism and hospitality business houses.
Apart from the hospitality business houses, tourism vessel operators who have been at the receiving end due to the travel restrictions imposed during COVID-19 pandemic can also claim this grant. The grant also covers all berthing costs that these operators have to bear. An approximate of 100 tourism business houses will be benefitted according to the estimate.
This grant complements more than $700 million that has been announced by the Queensland Government in the tourism and events industry under Queensland’s Economic Recovery Strategy – Unite and Recover for Queensland jobs.
Waiver of Fee and License NSW
The NSW government has announced a waiver of fee and license for a number of businesses including hospitality and tourism business for a period of 12 months. This grant, however, is available for the businesses that are based at NSW only. The following businesses will benefit from it:
Liquor and gaming: Bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and pubs with less than three branches are eligible for a waiver of new license application fees as well as annual liquor license fees.
Fair Trading NSW: Fees waiver include tattoo parlor license fees, house building contractor’s license fees, motor vehicle repairing specialist license fees among others.
The impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality sector was tremendous. Many business houses are yet to recuperate. Cited above are only some of the grants that are aimed at the revival of Hospitality sector in Australia. To know more anout such grants, please call one of our advisors at the number mentioned below.
