An expanded business support package will be rolled out for key industries in the budget with $20 million for the tourism and event sectors and $8 million to support business recovery.
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Major events will gain the bulk of the fresh support with $7.9 million to help rebuild those major events cancelled during the latest outbreak of the pandemic. The biggest crowd-pullers, Floriade, Summernats and the Royal Canberra Show, were all cancelled this year.
A major events fund will be established with a pool of $2.5 million over two years to attract new events and $3 million to expand tourism marketing activity.
The financial plight of scholastic hospitality businesses devastated by the border lockdowns has been identified, with $1.4 million going to the national capital educational tourism project.
Separate from the federal parliamentary and civics education rebate paid to schools to financially support visits, the ACT program is aimed at helping those businesses which are specifically geared to the visiting student market rebuild during 2022.
Similarly, the Canberra Convention Bureau will receive $1.3 million to kickstart the conference and business events sector while the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point will receive a $225,000 funding boost.
In partnership with Canberra Airport and Tourism Australia, a $750,000 aviation stimulus fund will be established to attract low-cost airlines, more direct flights to Canberra and attract future international routes, while efforts to stimulate international trade markets will be supported by a $3.2 million engagement strategy.
Entrepreneurs will be encouraged with a $1 million grant program supporting ideas and innovation, while the future jobs fund will receive $1.62 million, with support for the Canberra sound stage and the cyber hub.
It is hoped Canberra's events industry will rebound next year as COVID restrictions begin to ease across Australia.
Summernats is the first major event to confirm its 2022 plan, announcing plans for a COVID-safe relaunch from January 6.
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