Applications are now open for $8 million Accessible Tourism Infrastructure grants of between $25,000 to $500,000 to support small to medium sized tourism and events businesses to improve accessibility through infrastructure upgrades, assistive equipment and technology.
Applications are also now open for the new $1 million Accessible Tourism Enablers grants providing between $50,000 to $250,000 to support not-for-profit peak and disability services organisations to make products that make visitor experiences more inclusive.
Minister for Tourism and Sport Stirling Hinchliffe joined Paralympian Rachael Watson AOM at Brisbane’s Riverlife kayaking adventures this morning to open the grants ahead of tomorrow’s Brisbane 2032 Legacy Forum.
The new grants are part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million investment in the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism, an exciting opportunity to demonstrate Queensland’s commitment to making Brisbane 2032 the world’s most accessible and inclusive sporting event.
The strategy recognises the enormous untapped potential surrounding accessible tourism of $735 million per annum or $1.8 billion per annum when including the travel party.
The Palaszczuk Government has also signed on as a major sponsor for the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference on the Gold Coast on 28 April run by GetAboutAble.
Queensland’s Year of Accessible Tourism kicked-off with the release of a free online accessible tourism toolkit earlier this year developed by Get Skilled Access (GSA) and TravAbility in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport.
As part of the project, GSA and TravAbility worked with Regional Tourism Organisations in Greater Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Fraser Coast, Townsville, Outback Queensland and Cairns to assess tourist infrastructure accessibility and tourism business capability.
Throughout this year, six more tourist destinations will be assessed – Bundaberg, Capricorn, Gladstone, Mackay, the Whitsundays, and Southern Queensland.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said: “These grants will support upgrades of accessible visitor infrastructure and technology that will further enhance Queensland’s reputation as an all-abilities destination of choice.
“More and more people with a disability and their families are looking for travel options that can cater to their needs.
“We want this year to be the transformation that creates an enduring legacy for Queensland as an inclusive, world-class visitor destination.
“Queensland’s great lifestyle and world-class visitor experiences are too good not to be enjoyed by everyone.”
For more information, visit www.dtis.qld.gov.au/tourism/accessible-tourism/year-of-accessible-tourism.
