Province announces new funding for tourism associations and operator grant

The New Brunswick government is providing $500,000 a year in new tourism funding: $100,000 annually each for the Indigenous Tourism Association and the Tourism Industry Association, and $300,000 for a product development grant program for operators; applications open June 1.

The New Brunswick government announced new annual funding for tourism at the Metepenagiag Heritage Park. The announcement highlighted the Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation site on the Little Southwest Miramichi River as an example of a cultural attraction the province wants to promote. Minister Isabelle Thériault said tourism brings revenue and opportunities to share local culture and landscapes. The $500,000 increase was previously included in the provincial budget earlier this year. Key details: - $100,000 annually will go to the Indigenous Tourism Association of New Brunswick. - $100,000 annually will go to the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick. - $300,000 is budgeted for a new product development grant program for tourism operators, with applications opening June 1. - The department said tourism currently brings in $2.7 billion and the province hopes to increase tourism revenue by $1 billion over the next five years. - Minister Thériault said guidelines for accessing the funds will be posted on the department website in the days ahead; the announcement was made at the Metepenagiag Heritage Park. Summary: The funding adds $500,000 a year intended to support both industry associations and operator-level product development, and is presented as an investment to increase out-of-province tourism spending. Guidelines will be posted soon and operator grant applications open June 1; the province’s stated revenue target is an additional $1 billion over five years.