Tourism Growth Program (TGP): How to Apply by Region

Tourism Growth Program (TGP): How to Apply by Region

The Tourism Growth Program (TGP) is a federal funding program delivered regionally across Canada. While the goals are the same nationwide—growing visitation and strengthening tourism experiences—the way you apply depends on where your business operates. Identifying your regional agency ensures your application is processed correctly.

Tourism brings billions of dollars to Canada, especially to rural and seasonal communities. To support that growth, the federal government committed $108 million over three years to TGP, delivered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

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How the Tourism Growth Program Works Across Canada

TGP is not a single national intake. Each region has its own delivery agency, timelines, and funding terms. Your business location determines which version of the Tourism Growth Program you apply to.

Across all regions, TGP supports projects that:

• Develop or expand tourism products and experiences
• Increase domestic and international visitation
• Support year-round and off-season tourism
• Benefit local and regional economies, including rural and remote areas

Eligible applicants generally include:

• Incorporated small and medium-sized tourism businesses
• Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous tourism organizations
• Not-for-profit organizations, including tourism associations
• Municipal, provincial, or territorial governments

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Tourism Growth Program by Region

Atlantic Canada (ACOA)

Delivered by: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Who can apply:

• Tourism SMEs
• Indigenous-owned businesses
• Non-profits and tourism organizations
• Municipal and provincial governments

What’s funded:
Projects that build or enhance tourism products and experiences that increase visitation to Atlantic Canada, including rural and coastal communities.

Funding details:

• Contribution amounts vary by project
• Funding is typically non-repayable, subject to a contribution agreement

Status: Open

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Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)

Delivered by: Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)

Important:
The current intake period is closed. Applications submitted before the intake closed may still be assessed if funding remains.

Who can apply:

• Incorporated tourism SMEs
• Indigenous tourism businesses and organizations
• Not-for-profit tourism groups
• Governments and related entities

What’s funded:
Tourism development projects that drive visitation and economic diversification across the Prairies.

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Southern Ontario

Delivered by: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Who can apply:

• Incorporated tourism SMEs
• Indigenous-owned tourism businesses
• Not-for-profit tourism and economic development organizations
• Municipal governments

Funding structure:

• SMEs: Contributions are normally repayable
• Not-for-profits: Contributions are normally non-repayable

Projects that strengthen tourism experiences and generate regional economic benefits may receive priority.

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Quebec

Delivered by: Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Who can apply:

• Tourism SMEs
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Social economy enterprises active in tourism
• Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations

Funding amount:

• Minimum: $60,000
• Maximum: $250,000

Funding terms:

• SMEs usually receive repayable contributions
• Not-for-profits typically receive non-repayable funding

Flexible conditions may apply in economically vulnerable regions, including certain rural areas and Montréal’s East End.

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How to Apply for the Tourism Growth Program

While each region has its own process, most TGP applications follow these steps:

1. Confirm your regional delivery agency based on where your business operates
2. Prepare a project plan showing how your tourism project increases visitation
3. Gather financial documents, including budgets and forecasts
4. Submit an application through the regional agency’s intake process
5. Respond to follow-up questions during the assessment period

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter Tourism Growth Program options by province and applicant type in seconds.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying to the wrong region
   Your head office and project location matter. Submitting to the wrong RDA will delay or disqualify your application.

2. Ignoring repayable vs non-repayable terms
   Some regions offer repayable funding to businesses. Not understanding this can create cash flow issues later.
   See also: Repayable vs Non-Repayable Business Funding in Canada

3. Vague tourism impact
   Applications must clearly show how your project increases visitation, not just improves operations.

4. Missing intake windows
   Some regions close intakes without notice once funds are committed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Tourism Growth Program available in every province?
Yes. TGP is available nationwide but delivered by different regional agencies depending on your business location.

Q: How much funding can I get from the Tourism Growth Program?
Funding amounts vary by region and project. In Quebec, funding ranges from $60,000 to $250,000, while other regions assess funding case by case.

Q: Is Tourism Growth Program funding repayable?
It depends on the region and applicant type. SMEs often receive repayable contributions, while not-for-profits usually receive non-repayable funding.

Q: Are rural and remote tourism projects eligible?
Yes. Increasing visitation to rural and remote communities is a core objective of TGP.

Q: Are Indigenous tourism organizations eligible?
Yes. Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous tourism organizations are explicitly eligible across all regions.

GrantHub tracks active Tourism Growth Program intakes and hundreds of other tourism grants across Canada—check which ones match your business profile.

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Next Steps

The Tourism Growth Program can be a strong fit if your tourism project drives visitation and regional economic benefits. The key is applying through the right regional agency with a clear, visitor-focused project plan.

If you want to see how TGP compares to other tourism funding options, explore related guides like How to Use Canadian Tourism Grants to Develop Year-Round Experiences. GrantHub helps you stay on top of changing intakes and find programs that actually fit your business.

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