This program is currently between intakes. Annual intake — typically April each year. 2026–27 cycle closed April 22, 2026.
Updated May 2026 · Verified against Tourism Nova Scotia guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Grant Provincial Between Intakes

Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program

Tourism Nova Scotia
Maximum Funding
Up to $5,000
Annual (April intake; 2026–27 closed April 22, 2026)
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program provides Up to $5,000 in digital marketing support plus package development coaching. Tourism Nova Scotia program helping Nova Scotia tourism operators build and market purchasable packages targeting local and Atlantic region travellers during late-fall, winter, and year-round seasons. Annual (April intake; 2026–27 closed April 22, 2026). (As of May 2026, verified against Tourism Nova Scotia program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Tourism Nova Scotia program helping Nova Scotia tourism operators build and market purchasable packages targeting local and Atlantic region travellers during late-fall, winter, and year-round seasons. Selected businesses receive target market research insights, professional coaching and development tools for package positioning, a feature listing on a NovaScotia.com seasonal landing page, and inclusion in Tourism Nova Scotia's seasonal digital marketing campaigns — plus up to $5,000 in direct digital marketing support.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Nova Scotia tourism businesses and attractions with capacity to create, sell, and deliver new or existing purchasable tourism packages
  • Packages must be available year-round, or offered in late-fall (mid-October to late-November) and/or winter (mid-January to late-February)
  • Packages must be uniquely Nova Scotia in character and include guided or experiential elements
  • Partners offering online booking for their packages receive preference
  • Preference given to packages featuring connections to films and television series showcasing Nova Scotia
  • Priority consideration for underrepresented applicants including Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian businesses and attractions
  • Operator must have capacity to directly deliver the tourism experience (not purely a reseller)
Provinces
Nova Scotia
Industries
Tourism Hospitality Arts Culture
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion Mature

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
5h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $5,000 in digital marketing support plus package development coaching
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Deadline
Annual (April intake; 2026–27 closed April 22, 2026)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~5 hours
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Applying for Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program? 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

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Insider Tip

The RADIATE program is most valuable as a marketing amplification tool — the NovaScotia. com feature listing and inclusion in Tourism Nova Scotia's seasonal campaigns can deliver far more value than the $5,000 digital support amount alone. Operators whose packages genuinely extend the tourism season (late-fall October–November; winter January–February) have a competitive advantage over those offering peak-season products. Online booking capability is a strong differentiator. If your package connects to a Nova Scotia film or TV series location (e.g., Trailer Park Boys, The Listener, or historical drama settings), highlight this prominently in the application.

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Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Package is only available during peak summer season (no late-fall/winter/year-round offering)
  • Operator lacks capacity to directly create, sell, and deliver the package experience
  • Package is generic rather than uniquely Nova Scotia in character
+3 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

Established Nova Scotia tourism operator — accommodations, activity providers, cultural attractions, culinary experiences, guided tour companies — with a compelling experiential package suitable for the late-fall or winter market. Operators with online booking capability and a clear seasonal extension story (why their product works in winter) are ideal candidates. Indigenous-owned and African Nova Scotian-owned tourism businesses receive priority consideration.

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Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated on: (1) package concept strength and uniqueness as a Nova Scotia experience; (2) alignment with target seasons (late-fall, winter, year-round); (3) operator capacity to deliver the experience; (4) online booking capability; (5) connection to Nova Scotia culture, nature, or film/TV heritage; (6) equity and diversity considerations (Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian businesses receive priority). Competitive selection by Tourism Nova Scotia staff.

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6 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Review program guidelines and confirm eligibility Download the RADIATE Tourism Program guidelines from tourismns.ca/radiate-tourism-program. Confirm your business operates a tourism experience that can be packaged and sold, and that you can offer it in late-fall, winter, or year-round.
2 Develop your package concept for the application Define your package: what it includes (activities, accommodation, food, guided experience), price point, availability dates (late-fall/winter/year-round), and online booking method. Package must be purchasable as a single price point combining two or more experiences.
3 Complete and submit the online application Submit the application form at tourismns.ca/radiate-tourism-program by the April deadline (typically April 22 for 2026–27; watch for 2027–28 announcement). Applications from Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian businesses are specifically encouraged.
4 Selection and onboarding Tourism Nova Scotia reviews applications and notifies selected operators within 4–6 weeks of the deadline. Selected operators are onboarded into the program, receive market research briefings, and begin package development coaching with Tourism Nova Scotia advisors.
5 Package promotion and marketing campaigns Tourism Nova Scotia features your package on a NovaScotia.com seasonal landing page and includes it in digital marketing campaigns targeting local and Atlantic region travellers. The up to $5,000 in digital marketing support is deployed during this phase.

Required Documents 4

✓ Online application form (tourismns.ca/radiate-tourism-program)
✓ Description of proposed tourism package (components, pricing, availability, booking method)
✓ Evidence of capacity to deliver the experience (operator profile, existing tourism operation)
✓ Description of target markets and how the package extends beyond peak season

Eligible Expenses 4

  • Digital marketing campaign creation and delivery managed by Tourism Nova Scotia
  • Package positioning and development coaching from Tourism Nova Scotia advisors
  • Inclusion in Tourism Nova Scotia seasonal digital campaigns (value in-kind)
  • Feature listing on NovaScotia.com seasonal landing page (value in-kind)

Ineligible Expenses 4

  • Direct cash payments to operators for operating expenses
  • Capital equipment or facility improvements
  • Packages available only during peak summer season
  • Resale of third-party tourism products not delivered by the operator

Intake Periods

Annual intake — typically April each year. 2026–27 cycle closed April 22, 2026. Next intake expected spring 2027. Subscribe to Tourism Nova Scotia's industry newsletter for announcement.

Deadline Notes

Annual intake program. The 2026–27 cycle closed April 22, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ADT. The 2027–28 intake is expected to open in spring 2027. Subscribe to Tourism Nova Scotia's industry newsletter for notification of future intakes.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Tourism businesses outside Nova Scotia
  • Businesses without capacity to directly create and deliver tourism packages
  • Pure tourism resellers or aggregators without their own experiential product
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Tourism Nova Scotia — Tourism Digital Assistance Program (TDAP) Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Tourism Nova Scotia — RADIATE Tourism Program

Free
Is RADIATE a cash grant or an in-kind program?
Mostly in-kind — Tourism Nova Scotia provides research insights, package development coaching, a NovaScotia.com feature listing, and inclusion in seasonal marketing campaigns. The up to $5,000 is digital marketing spend deployed by Tourism Nova Scotia on your behalf, not a cash payment.
Can a new tourism business apply for RADIATE?
Yes — Tourism Nova Scotia does not require an established track record, but you must demonstrate capacity to create, sell, and deliver the package experience. First-time operators should have a clear package concept and ability to handle bookings.
Does my package need to be a winter-only offering?
No — year-round packages qualify. The program prioritizes late-fall (mid-October to late-November) and winter (mid-January to late-February) offerings, but year-round packages that include these seasons are fully eligible.
When is the next RADIATE intake?
The 2026–27 cycle closed April 22, 2026. The 2027–28 intake is expected in spring 2027. Subscribe to Tourism Nova Scotia's industry newsletter at tourismns.ca to be notified when applications open.
Do I need to offer online booking to qualify?
Online booking is not mandatory but is a strong preference factor. Packages from partners offering online booking receive priority consideration. If you don't have online booking, address this in your application and outline your plan to add it.

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