Saskatchewan Tourism Development Program (TDP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Up to $40,000 per applicant for market-ready Saskatchewan tourism businesses operating 2+ years. Supports capital investments in facilities, equipment, and marketing to grow the province's tourism industry. Requires 30-50% equity contribution from the applicant.
Eligibility Requirements
- Market-ready Saskatchewan tourism business
- Operating for 2+ years
- Incorporated or sole proprietorship
- Must provide 30-50% equity contribution
- Must be a tourism-focused business
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $40,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 70% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Temporarily closed — expected to reopen mid-April 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win TDP — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 10-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for TDP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipTourism Saskatchewan prioritizes projects that increase visitor spend or extend the tourism season beyond the traditional summer peak. If your project enables shoulder-season or winter tourism, highlight this prominently. Equipment purchases for new tourist experiences (outfitting, recreation equipment) are common successful applications.
Success Profile
Established Saskatchewan tourism operators making targeted capital investments — outfitting companies upgrading equipment, lodges adding cabins or amenities, tour operators expanding capacity, or recreation businesses adding new activities. Projects that demonstrably attract new visitors or extend stays.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications evaluated by Tourism Saskatchewan industry development consultants against program objectives: creation of new purchasable experiential tourism product, expansion of seasonal usage of existing tourism infrastructure, and growth of core tourism business capacity. Projects with demonstrated visitor-draw potential, shoulder-season or winter tourism extension, and strong equity contribution score highest. No formal competitive scoring matrix published — consultant assessment and alignment with provincial tourism priorities.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 6
- Third-party construction contractor labour and services
- Building materials for capital infrastructure
- Fixed or stationary equipment (not vehicles)
- Project supplies directly associated with eligible capital work
- Permit fees and construction design or architectural costs
- Qualified third-party shipping costs for eligible items
Ineligible Expenses 12
- Land purchase or lease
- Tools, appliances, and vehicles
- Equipment rentals
- Food, perishables, livestock, or inventory
- Campground, retail, or event space development
- Hostel development
- ALL marketing expenses (directed to Tourism Saskatchewan's Marketing and Event Partnership Program)
- Travel and education/certification costs
- Routine operational costs (salaries, benefits, office supplies, repairs)
- In-kind contributions
- Taxes (GST, PST)
- Any expenses subsidized by other Tourism Saskatchewan or Government of Saskatchewan programs
Intake Periods
Annual intake. 2025–2026 cycle opened April 10, 2025 and closed March 31, 2026. Program temporarily closed as of early 2026 for review and updates; expected to reopen mid-April 2026. Project completion deadline is March 31, 2028.
Deadline Notes
Temporarily closed for applications to allow for review and updates. Expected to reopen mid-April 2026. Applications accepted until annual funding is committed. Apply early in fiscal year for best chance.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Tourism businesses operating less than 2 years
- Businesses without demonstrated tourism focus
- Campground, hostel, or retail-only operators
- Organizations unable to provide the required minimum equity contribution (30% for Experience Development; 50% for Expansion & Growth or Winterization streams)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow TDP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan Tourism Development Prog... | Up to $40,000 | Easy | Milestone-Based | Temporarily closed —... |
| PrairiesCan Community Economic Develo... | $75,000 to $1,500,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing — 2-stage EOI... |
| Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fun... | Up to $450,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Open (twice-yearly... |
| Sport Canada Programs | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Yukon Economic Development Fund (EDF) | up to $30,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Tier 1: Rolling; Tier 2:... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about TDP