R20 million allocated for distressed KZN tourism businesses

AT least 400 KwaZulu-Natal tourism businesses are set to benefit from the R20 million Tourism Relief Fund which has been set up by the provincial government to support businesses in distress as a result of Covid-19.

This was announced on Monday, 15 March by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay, while giving details of the relief scheme. 

Applications for the fund opened on 15 March and will close on 15 April.

Successful tourism businesses will each receive R50 000 while tourist guides stand to receive R4 500 each.

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Priority will be given to enterprises that could not benefit from any of the available government funding schemes for Covid-19.

“The survival of small distressed tourism businesses during this trying time is of critical importance. This is why as the KZN government we have recognised the need to intervene to save these businesses from total collapse. We also hope that this scheme will help save jobs,” said Pillay. 

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Pillay said in 2020 the R100 million National Tourism Relief Fund successfully supported 4 000 businesses, 607 of which are from KZN.

There are requirements for eligibility for funding. 

Applications will be evaluated by an independent assessor for verification and these assessments will go before a screening committee.

Application forms are downloadable from the official TKZN website: www.zulu.org.za 

A help desk has been set up to guide and provide information to applicants. Only electronic application forms will be accepted.

The completed application forms together with supporting documents must be scanned or converted into PDF and sent to the following email address: kzntourismrelief@zulu.org.za

To find out about eligibility stipulations, contact the Helpdesk: kzntourismrelief@zulu.org.za or 086 177 7579.  

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