Tourism NI: Tourism Event Funding Programme

Overview

The main support mechanism available for the Events Industry is the Tourism Event Funding Programme, an annual funding programme designed to support International and National Tourism Events.

The International Tourism Events Fund

The primary aim of the International Tourism Events Fund is to support the delivery of the Events Strategic Vision to 2020. Paramount to this is the growth of international visitor numbers and international visitor spend.

Events supported through the International Tourism Events Fund must:

• Generate substantial economic benefit for Northern Ireland through increased visitor and participant numbers, including bednights and increased numbers of visitors from out of state.
• Enhance Northern Ireland’s opportunities to host further major events
• Be backed by a viable budget and realistic planning
• Possess measurable outcomes

They will appraise your application by taking into account the following 8 criteria:

1. Visitor Experience
2. Economic Estimation - Visitor and Participant Numbers (the events ability to attract out of state visitors). Tourism Economic Impact (the events ability to generate non-subsidised commercial bednights)

Underpinned by:

• Media Impact and Marketing Activity
• Event Management, Viability and Budget Transparency
• Additionality and Sustainability
• Environmental Sustainability and Green Tourism
• Social Impact
• Equality of Opportunity and Accessibility

Funding Parameters

• Maximum funding of 50% of eligible costs for private, public and voluntary sector events
• Total visitor numbers greater than 5,000 (not subsidised)
• An aimed return on investment of 5:1
• A positive media matrix assessment for events where media exposure is a central driver
• Events must have a minimum income of £150,000 through ticket sales, private sponsorship, other public sector, merchandise etc. Tourism NI support cannot be included as part of the minimum income requirements.
• Events must have an overall minimum expenditure of £150,000 prior to receiving monies from Tourism NI.
• Maximum funding request from Tourism NI is £150,000

Example Eligible Costs

• Marketing Costs (out of state marketing only - to be discussed with Tourism NI Events Unit at initial meeting.)
• Performance Costs – Performance fees / Appearance fees (excluding travel, food and accommodation expenses)
• Health & Safety Costs – First aid / Stewards
• Venue Costs – Venue hire / Venue preparation / Venue restoration / Marquee hire
• Production Costs – Staging / Sound / Lighting / Equipment hire / Communication (radios) / Toilet hire / Bin hire
• Investors in Volunteers Accreditation
• Volunteer Training Costs
• Auditor Certificate (up to £250)
• Security Costs
• Independent Event Evaluations (up to £3,000) – only eligible with advanced approval (including methodology) from Tourism NI Events Unit.
• Bidding Costs – (including host fees)
• Freight Costs

The Tourism Events Sponsorship Scheme

Tourism Events will showcase Northern Ireland’s regions and destinations allowing our visitors to get closer to our authentic people, places and personality through experiencing the real Northern Ireland. These events will cover a wide range of themes and areas such as activities, music, culture, food, art, theatre and certain events will appeal to niche markets and appeal to the ‘visitor segments’. Sponsored events will endorse geographical spread and exploration of all destinations and enhance off peak times where there is surplus capacity in our tourism industry.

1. Tourism NI will appraise your application to the National Tourism Events Sponsorship scheme by taking account of the following areas:
2. Visitor Experience Will the visitor experience the true spirit of Northern Ireland?
3. Tourism Economic Impact Does the event generate additional expenditure within a defined area as a result of staging the event?
4. Finance Is the budget appropriate for the activity that is planned?
5. Marketing Does the marketing plan clearly identify your target audience and will it deliver?
6. Equality of Opportunity and Accessibility Does your event promote equality of opportunity?

Additional Priorities for Tourism NI are:

• Address regional spread Encourage attendance of out of state visitors / visitors who are already in Northern Ireland to move around Northern Ireland.
• Elongate the tourism season Events to take place outside the traditional bank holiday period and tourism season and more of a spread throughout the year.

Sponsorship Parameters

Events must satisfy the parameters below to apply for the National Tourism Events Sponsorship Scheme:

• Total visitor numbers greater than 1,000
• Events must have a minimum income of £50,000 through ticket sales, private sponsorship, other public sector, merchandise etc. (prior to receiving monies from Tourism NI)
• Events must have an overall minimum expenditure of £50,000 (prior to receiving monies from Tourism NI)
• Sponsorship available for events up to £30,000 inc. VAT
• Tourism NI support cannot be included as part of the minimum income requirement
• In-kind support is not included in the budget