FAQ

Businesses will receive up to $5,000 including HST in consulting services from qualified digital service providers to help improve their online marketing. Click on each eligible service for more in-depth information to help you identify your digital needs:

• Website Design & Development (includes AI-Powered Chatbots and Automations): Create a modern, professional, and easy-to-use website that captures your brand’s story and converts visitors into customers.
• E-commerce: Sell your products, gift cards, or merchandise online by integrating a secure and reliable online store into your website.
• Online Booking: Allowing guests to self-book accommodations, events or other services and the transfer of money and data to complete the booking.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): A set of practices designed to improve the appearance and positioning of web pages in organic search results when using search engines like Google or Bing.
• Data Analytics: Understand how visitors are using your website and interacting with your marketing, allowing you to make smarter, data-driven decisions to achieve your goals.
• Digital Marketing Planning: Promotion of your brand and/or organization to connect with potential customers using the internet and other forms of digital marketing.
• Social Media Planning: Create a strategic plan for your social media channels to build an engaged community of followers and turn them into loyal customers, also includes Mobile Content Creation.
• Copywriting: Craft persuasive and compelling text for your website, social media, and ads that captures your unique brand voice and encourages people to book.
• Digital Branding & Design: Creation and/or promotion of an organization, product or service by means of advertising, branding (logo, symbols, colours), or other distinctive design.
• Photography and/or Videography to Fill Content Gaps (up to $3,000 including HST – see application for more details): Tell your story with high-quality, professional photos and videos designed to capture the attention of potential visitors and showcase your unique experience.

TDAP is open to Nova Scotia tourism businesses that are listed on https://www.novascotia.com and are currently open or plan to open for the 2026 tourism season.

Businesses must demonstrate a need to update a component of their online presence and that they are able to implement the identified goals and outcomes by March 31, 2027. Applicants must be registered with the Short-term Rentals  Registry (if applicable). Applicants with overdue program reporting/deliverables with CCTH or DNS will not be eligible.

In addition to prioritizing EDIA applicants, preference is given to applicants whose primary focus is attracting and servicing visitors that align with target market interests; first-time applicants; and applicants who are expanding beyond their peak season and/or transitioning toward year-round operations.

TNS is dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) in Nova Scotia.

We encourage and prioritize applications from underrepresented businesses, organizations, and individuals, as well as those that offer tourism activities that amplify and reflect underrepresented communities, experiences and voices. For example, preference will be given to applications from Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities.

Approved applicants will be matched with a qualified consultant for up to $5,000 (tax inclusive) in services. Of this amount, up to $1,000 can be used for subscription services and digital campaign testing, and up to $3,000 can be used for photography or videography services. Any remaining funds will be allocated towards additional services offered through this program.

Approved participants are encouraged to register for TNS’s Photo/Video Library to obtain existing relevant images/videos of the community to use in their projects: https://tourismns.ca/photo-video-library.

Yes. Applicants should be as specific as possible in their application about their desired services. For example, a TDAP-Communities applicant may prioritize website design and may require online chat functions. Note, focus on activities that aren’t duplication of NovaScotia.com but are complementary.

Businesses selected for the Tourism Digital Assistance Program will have their applications reviewed by a panel at Digital Nova Scotia and may be contacted to further discuss their current challenges and what they need to do to improve their online marketing.

Digital Nova Scotia will provide a list with recommendations of qualified consultants and businesses will select the consultant that works best for them.

Digital Nova Scotia will then create a contract between Digital Nova Scotia and the Consultant before work can commence on the project. Businesses will work with the consultants to complete the identified technology project and submit a final report to Digital Nova Scotia. Consultants will submit invoices for their services directly to Digital Nova Scotia.

TDAP projects must be delivered by approved Digital Service Providers (DSPs) that have been selected through the program’s procurement process. This helps ensure consistent service quality, fair access to program funding, and timely delivery of projects.

If you are currently working with a consultant, you may note this in your application. However, only consultants that are part of the program’s approved DSP network will be eligible to deliver TDAP-funded work. If your current consultant is not part of the network, a qualified DSP will be matched to your project.

The creation of photography and videos is limited to $3,000 including HST. For these services, you will be assigned to work with a consultant who has been approved by Digital Nova Scotia (DNS) and Tourism Nova Scotia (TNS) to offer these services. If you request to work with a consultant outside of this list, DNS/TNS has the option to deny this request based on the fit.

For a more elaborate program that supports the development of photos and videos to help market your business, TNS offers their Digital Content Marketing Program. They also offer access to their online library of photos and videos that their partners can use at no cost to promote travel to Nova Scotia.

Any subscription services, new technology and media buys that are directly related to the launch of services developed in conjunction with the Tourism Business must not exceed $1,000 inclusive of taxes. This allocated amount will be deducted from the total $5,000 budget.

TDAP and TDAP–Communities cannot be used solely to fund media buys, and participants cannot invoice the program directly for individual media buys. However, consultants may include eligible subscription services, licenses, supportive technology, digital campaign testing, and media buys within the allowable capped amounts outlined in the program guidelines.

Yes, businesses may apply to participate in TDAP again in 2026-27 if they participated in previous years. Previous participants must clearly demonstrate a need and how participation will build on previous work completed in the program. Businesses that will participate in TDAP 2026-27 spring intake from April 1, 2026, are ineligible for any potential upcoming cohorts in the 2026-27 fiscal year. First-time applicants will be given priority.

If you received notice that your application was declined but your circumstances have changed and you now meet the eligibility criteria, you may submit a new application. Please note that this program receives a high number of applications and eligibility does not guarantee acceptance as it is a competitive application process.

Although an applicant may be eligible, eligibility does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Given the interest in the program, we are not able to move forward with all applicants at this time. Priority for TDAP was given to independently operated businesses whose primary focus is on attracting and servicing visitors, and who clearly demonstrated a need to enhance their online marketing and e-commerce tools. Businesses who applied and were unsuccessful in previous years are welcome to reapply to the program.

Applications are subject to a competitive process, and acceptance will be based on the competitive evaluation and budget availability. Although an applicant may be eligible, eligibility does not guarantee acceptance into the program. If the application is successful, some or all of the requested activities may be supported.
We also encourage you to consider the many other opportunities to work with TNS to promote your business, which you can find on our website at https://tourismns.ca.

Our aim is to support as many individual businesses as possible through this program. This is why our general approach has been to focus on one grant per registered business per funding cycle. This is primarily guided by the high volume of applications received and the finite number of grants available per year.

However, entities with multiple distinct operations under a single registration may submit multiple applications. Each application must clearly demonstrate that the specific business operation:

• Has separate objectives.
• Targets a distinct audience.
• Requires independent digital support.
• Operates independently.
• Has the resources and capacity to manage separate grant projects.

Each application will be assessed individually and must present a strong, standalone case to be considered for separate funding.

For more information about the Tourism Digital Assistance Program or the application process, please contact:

Program Contacts

Business Development Team, Tourism Nova Scotia

TNSBusiness@novascotia.ca

Digital Nova Scotia

tdap@digitalnovascotia.com, 902-809-5332