What is the COVID-19 Tourism Grant?
The Tourism Grant under the COVID-19 Allocation programme by the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Tourism is open to applications from registered businesses in the Jamaica Tourism Sector.
Businesses operating in the tourism sector, inclusive of hotels, attractions and tours, which are registered with the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) will be eligible to apply for and receive a one-off grant from a pool of $1.2 billion allocated for that purpose.
The Tourism Grant Application Process
Tourism businesses will be able to apply to the COVID-19 Tourism Grant Committee, a multi-stakeholder body set up specifically to receive, deliberate and decide on applications for Tourism Grant according to set criteria.
Eligibility for the Grant
To qualify for a COVID-19 Tourism Grant , the business applicant will need to submit the following information: up-to date management accounts; projected cash-flow statement along with assumptions; brief recovery plan; statement of personal assets and liabilities; evidence of tax compliance.
Benefits of the Tourism Grant Programme
Successful business applicants who are selected by the COVID-19 Tourism Grant Committee will receive COVID-19 Tourism Grants of varying sizes up to a set maximum.
About the CARE Programme
The CARE Programme is a temporary cash transfer programme to individuals and businesses to cushion the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CARE Programme represents the Jamaican society coming together to assist those who are most affected by the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to put us in the best position to recover and to be stronger than we were before the crisis.
The systems (CARE Programme) to deliver a targeted intervention of this scale, in the required timeframe, do not exist and have to be built from scratch. A multidisciplinary team from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Accountant General’s Department, Tax Administration Jamaica and eGov Jamaica Limited have been working around the clock to build the required infrastructure.
Call the helpline 888-4WE-CARE
(888-493-2273)
@MOFJamaica
As much as is possible, applications to the CARE Programme will be electronic and the online platform will open on April 9, 2020. In addition, those with questions will be able to call the helpline 888-4WE-CARE (888-493-2273).
The CARE Programme is broad in scope with benefits for a wide range of individuals and businesses who are likely to be affected. In addition, there is a Compassionate Grant that anyone can apply for providing that they are not otherwise benefiting from the CARE Programme.
Even then, it will not be possible for the CARE Programme to reach everyone and the Government cannot do it alone. This is a time where all of us, citizens of Jamaica, need to be our “brother’s and sister’s keeper” Let us pull together, rally around and support each other and show that WE CARE.
