Destination Development Fund
Last updated on July 23, 2026
About the fund
Established in 2021, the Destination Development Fund provided one-time grants to help enhance tourism infrastructure, assets and experiences across British Columbia. Between 2021 and 2023, nearly $60 million supported 121 projects that strengthened tourism opportunities in communities throughout the province.
On this page
Overview
The Destination Development Fund invested in projects that:
- Fostered distinct and globally competitive destinations
- Strengthened a year-round visitor economy
- Increased community vibrancy and resident support for tourism
- Supported sustainability, accessibility and inclusion
The fund awarded grants across two streams:
Stream 1: Activate
Stream 1 funds up to $1,000,000 per project. Apply for this stream if your project will build or rejuvenate:
- Tourism infrastructure
- Visitor amenities
- Tourist attractions
Examples of eligible projects include:
- New tourism attraction
- Campground development
- Improved water access
- Public visitor services
- Thematic and/or Indigenous signage
- Event infrastructure
- Iconic recreational experience development
- Off-season experiences
Stream 2: Elevate
Stream 2 funds up to $500,000 per project. Apply for this stream if your project will improve destination competitiveness through:
- Modernizing tourism experiences
- Building capacity and skills
- Adopting and adapting technology
- Enhancing sustainability practices
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Accessibility and inclusion improvements
- Destination stewardship tools and infrastructure
- Community education programs
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Digital adaptation and automation
- Tourism experience revitalization/restoration
How to use your funding
You can use grant funds to pay for:
- Goods or services directly related to the project
- Professional costs for technical personnel, consultants, contractors
- Environmental reviews
- Archaeological assessments
- Indigenous engagement
- Project management fees (must not exceed 15% of total cost)
- Insurance related to construction
- Construction/material costs
- Repairs and rejuvenation of existing tourism infrastructure and amenities
- Leasing of equipment related to the construction of the project
- Utility, electrical, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer set-up/connection services to the site
- Equipment essential for operation of the project
- Digital infrastructure
- Business training (must not exceed 10% of total cost)
You can’t use grant funds to pay for:
- Costs incurred before approval date and after project completion date
- Accrued costs
- Any goods or services costs which are received through donations or in kind
- Legal fees
- For infrastructure projects, any planning fees exceeding 15% of total project
- Gifts and hospitality costs (for example, food, beverages, liquor, entertainment etc.)
- Liability insurance
- General routine and cyclical maintenance, and other normal overhead costs
- Salaries and other employment benefits unless pre-approved (to a maximum of 15% of the total funding)
- Furnishings and non-fixed assets non-essential to the project
- Land acquisition (for example, leasing) and real estate fees
- Marketing activities
Expenses must be direct and essential to the project. You can only use grant funds on eligible expenses.
Grant funding will be issued in two payments:
- 90% upon application approval
- 10% after you submit your final report
Reporting
Funding recipients are required to submit a final project report within three months of project completion.
Organizations awarded grant funds may also be subject to post-payment audits to ensure compliance with the fund guidelines. If you use awarded funds for ineligible expenses, you may have to repay your entire grant.
I need help
If you have questions about your approved project, please email: destinationdevelopment@gov.bc.ca.