Nature-Based Tourism Program

We provide financial support to eligible businesses and private investors to provide nature-based tourism experiences that:

are low impact and immersive
encourage participation
promote environment and cultural appreciation and conservation.

Grants and opportunities

Grant and opportunity applications are now open

Grants – support for existing and emerging businesses to deliver products in the Gold Coast nature-based tourism sector (under $100,000).

Opportunities – support for new or significantly enhanced best practice, low impact, nature-based tourism experiences and associated infrastructure on the Gold Coast (over $100,000).

Council-led projects – we are developing a select number of projects led by Council to extend the Gold Coast's nature-based tourism experiences.

Watch our video on Council-led projects

Read our press release on nature-based tourism

Eligibility and guidelines

Initiatives must be located within the Gold Coast local government area.

Eligible businesses must:

demonstrate qualifications, experience and capacity to establish and operate their initiative in a commercially viable manner
be currently operating with an Australian Business Number for at least 12 months
be legal entities capable of entering into a binding agreement with the City. Sole traders, partnerships, companies & trusts are accepted. All not-for-profit organisations must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, or be an Incorporated Community and Progress Association
be commercially and financially viable
demonstrate sustainable practices (including environmental, social, cultural and economic dimensions)
account for any risks relating to natural events that may affect the proposed setting for their opportunity, such as bushfires or flooding
not have spent the budgets they have applied for before their application is approved.

For details, read our Nature Based Tourism Program Guidelines(PDF, 695KB)

Grant applications

Apply for quick activation financial or in-kind support for both new and established tourism businesses.

Applications are open from 8 May to 30 June. Successful grant applications will be announced in September.

Apply now

Criteria

Small simple projects that can enhance your business's nature-based tourism offerings and services within the Gold Coast that:

requires project funding between $1000 and $100,000
no new lease or licensing agreements needed from the City of Gold Coast
no planning, building or other site specific or operational constraints
be ready to start within 12 months from when the grant funding agreement is signed and approved
projects must fall in one of the 6 categories listed in the program guidelines.