FAQ Communities

TDAP – Communities is open to Nova Scotia municipalities, chambers of commerce, and community tourism organizations with a focus on tourism in a specific community or communities.

Organizations must have been in operation for over a year, with a demonstrated effort/interest to promote travel to the community.  Organizations must be in good standing with the provincial Registry of Joint Stock Companies (if applicable). Applicants with overdue program reporting/deliverables with DNS or TNS will not be eligible.

Priority is given to applicants who demonstrate a well-defined digital need and efforts in building tourism, such as championing a geographic area or product cluster, and can describe how these digital offerings will positively impact tourism in their community. Priority will also be given to first time applicants.

A panel from Tourism Nova Scotia and Digital Nova Scotia will review and score applications. Although an applicant may be eligible, eligibility does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Priority is given to applicants who demonstrate a well-defined digital need and efforts in building tourism, such as championing a geographic area or product cluster, and can describe how these digital offerings will positively impact tourism in their community.

Given the growing number of travellers that start their trip-planning research on the internet, a well-designed and maintained digital footprint is critical to attracting potential travellers to a region, community, or generating interest in a type of tourism product. Communities can inspire people to visit by making it easy to find compelling information online about what there is to see and do and what makes you an exciting place to visit. Having a strong online presence is a powerful marketing tool that helps communities reach more people and build stronger awareness with potential travellers.

TNS and DNS are committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in Nova Scotia, and we support partners who share in this commitment. We will prioritize applications from organizations that are operated by equity-seeking groups or that include activities that help give a voice to these communities. For example, preference will be given to applications from Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian businesses and organizations.

For TDAP and TDAP – Communities, we will take steps to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) considerations are incorporated into our evaluation process.  Our scoring rubric includes a dedicated section that factors in EDIA.  This addition will help us evaluate and prioritize applications. By integrating EDIA into our scoring rubric, we aim to foster a more inclusive and equitable program selection process.

The Tourism Digital Assistance Program – Communities (TDAP – Communities) will offer up to $15,000 in services from qualified digital consultants to help communities overcome gaps in their digital marketing and online services to better promote their tourism products and attract travellers. Eligible services include:

• Website Design & Development (includes AI Powered Chatbots and Automations): Writing code to build the look, feel, functionality and usability of a website.
• E-commerce: Buying and selling of goods or services through a website, and the transfer of money and data to complete the sale.
• 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: Examination of raw datasets to draw conclusions about the information they contain and be able to use them towards effective decision-making related to your community’s online presence.
• Digital Marketing: Promotion of your brand and/or organization to connect with potential customers using the internet and other forms of digital communication.
• Social Media: Digital channels that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, and interests through the Internet. 
• Copywriting: Writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. 
• Branding & Design: Creation and/or promotion of an organization, product or service by means of advertising, branding (logo, symbols, colours), or other distinctive design.
• Podcast & Audio Services: Digital audio recordings that can be downloaded for listening or used for other marketing purposes.
• Photography & Videography (up to $2,500 including HST – see application for more details): Production of moving or still images.

While we recognize the significance of visual assets in marketing efforts, TDAP–Communities is not primarily a content development program.  Instead, the program is intended to help community tourism organizations develop marketing assets such as websites, social media, and other digital platforms, aiding them in enhancing their digital presence and addressing specific digital challenges. Photo/video deliverables are meant to bridge content gaps only.

TNS offers other marketing programs catering specifically to content development needs.  TDAP–Communities complements these efforts by concentrating on supporting digital solutions. We encourage applicants to consider how the photography/videography services can align with their digital objectives and contribute to addressing their unique challenges.

We have added these services to help participants ensure their projects are successful, but developing visual content is not the focus for this program and therefore the funds available for these services is capped.

Approved participants are encouraged to register for TNS’s Photo/Video Library to obtain existing relevant images/videos of the community to use in the 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, an interactive map showing attractions, a directory of local businesses and events, functionality for adding tourism packages, etc.

Applicants should indicate if they would like to discuss their digital needs by checking the box for “Help, I don’t know what services I need” in the digital services section of the application form.  This will trigger a more comprehensive needs assessment for approved participants.

Those selected for the Tourism Digital Assistance Program – Communities will have their applications reviewed by Digital Nova Scotia and may be contacted to further discuss their challenges and what they need to do to improve their digital footprint. 

Community tourism organizations can also request to work with a specific consultant in their application. If there is no request, Digital Nova Scotia will provide recommendations of qualified consultants and groups will select the consultant that works best for their needs. 

Digital Nova Scotia will then create a contract between Digital Nova Scotia and the Consultant before work starts. Every project will have a mandatory Discovery Session that includes the Digital Service Provider (DSP), the community tourism organization, and a representative from DNS and TNS before any work begins.

Organizations will work with the consultants to complete the identified project and submit a final report to Digital Nova Scotia. Consultants will submit invoices for their services directly to Digital Nova Scotia.

If you already work with an eligible consultant you can indicate on your application that you would like to continue working with them through TDAP – Communities. You will still need to identify the specific project you would like to complete through the program.

The creation of photography and videos is limited to $2,500 (tax inclusive). 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.

The final edited photos/videos created through this program will be owned by TNS and shared with the participating organization to use in your marketing, and may be used by TNS in marketing campaigns and channels, and uploaded to the TNS digital content library to share with approved tourism industry partners.

Any subscription services, new technology and media buys that are directly related to the launch of services developed in conjunction with the Community Tourism Organization must not exceed $2,500 inclusive of taxes. This allocated amount will be deducted from the total $15,000 budget.

This is a competitive application process and groups will need to demonstrate how their project will positively impact tourism in their community.  TNS will consider whether a project would be a duplication with an existing marketing channel available to the community and may contact the applicants during the evaluation period.

Yes, organizations may apply to participate in TDAP – Communities again in 2024-25 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. Organizations that will participate in TDAP – Communities 2024-25 spring intake since April 1, 2024, are ineligible for any potential upcoming cohorts in the 2024-25 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 – Communities was given to Nova Scotia Municipalities, Chambers of Commerce and community tourism organizations whose primary focus is on promoting a community/communities, and who clearly demonstrated a need to enhance their online marketing and e-commerce tools.  Community tourism organizations who applied and were unsuccessful in previous years are welcome to reapply to the program.

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.