Encouragement of tourism activities
Objective of the measure
To use the natural resources in Northern Ireland’s rural areas to attract visitors, and create new employment opportunities through the sustainable development of the rural economy.
Eligible Applicants
Applicant businesses must be located in a rural area.
They may be;
- private individuals, aged over 18 years;
- private companies or partnerships
- social economy enterprises*
- non departmental public bodies
- councils
*Definition: Social Economy Enterprise (SEE) are viewed as those organisations that have a social, community or ethical purpose, operate using a commercial business model and have a legal form appropriate to a not -for personal profit status.
This measure will not provide support for applicants eligible under measure 3.1.
What type of projects can be supported?
New and existing tourism products can be supported under this measure e.g.
• Activity tourism
• Niche/specialist tourism markets/local crafts or produce
• Eco-tourism
• Self-catering accommodation
• Rural Signature Projects – enhancement or development of significant tourism infrastructure projects or programmes that impact significantly on rural tourism. Applicants will have to demonstrate fit with local strategies.
Additional guidance for tourism projects
Self Catering – Self catering projects of one or more units will be eligible on the following basis; Full planning permission must be in place before application is submitted. Only projects which agree to meet NITB classification 4 or 5 star will be accepted and this will be a condition in the Letter of Offer (LOO). Full fire certification will also be a LOO condition.
Tourist Product Development And Marketing – All projects that fall under this heading must have written approval from NITB as a pre condition to eligibility.
Grant Rates
| Activity | Level of Support | Maximum funding |
| Grant aid towards capital and resource costs | Up to 50% for the private sectorUp to 75% for social economy enterprises, including Community GroupsUp to 75% for non departmental public bodies and councils | £50 000£250 000£250 000 |
| Marketing support | Up to 50% for the private sectorUp to 75% for social economy enterprises, including Community GroupsUp to 75% for non departmental public bodies and councils | £5 000 in any one of the activities, or as a composite of two or three.Exception : Marketing will be available up to a max of £200 000 for strategic bodies |
| Bespoke training intrinsic to individual applications which is not on offer from any other provider | ||
| Technical support to help new businesses become established and to help existing businesses to consolidate and expand |
Social economy businesses may provide match funding in the form of contribution-in-kind (20%) and cash contribution of at least 5%.
No advances will be paid, except to SEE’s @ a maximum of 20% of total grant award.
