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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The 'Provinciale steunmaatregelen toerisme' is an umbrella program consolidating various provincial funding opportunities aimed at supporting the tourism sector across different provinces in Flanders. It seeks to enhance the tourism experience, strengthen entrepreneurial competencies, foster innovation, and promote sustainability within the sector. This initiative is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, targeting tourism businesses and organizations of varying sizes. - Geographic scope: Specific provinces within Belgium: Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, West-Vlaanderen. - Key filtering criteria: Geographic location within one of the specified provinces and operation within the tourism sector. - Grant frequency: Recurring, with individual provincial measures having their own distinct application windows and frequencies.

Financial Structure

Funding for 'Provinciale steunmaatregelen toerisme' consists of various subsidies provided by the individual provinces.
Limburg - Toeristische logies - investeringsprojecten beleving: Maximum subsidy of €20,000 per project.
Limburg - Kleinschalige logies en fietscafés: Maximum subsidy of 75% of accepted eligible costs, with a maximum of €10,000 per application. Minimum subsidy amount of €500; if lower, no subsidy is awarded.
Limburg - Leisurefonds:
- Phase 1 (Business Plan): Up to €15,000.
- Phase 2 (Implementation): Maximum of 70% of accepted eligible costs, with a maximum of €110,000.
Oost-Vlaanderen - Subsidie voor toeristische evenementen: Amount determined by the deputation, varying from €2,500 to more than €10,000.
Oost-Vlaanderen - Betoelaging promotie toeristische evenementen: Maximum of 50% of actual incurred costs (excl. VAT) for promotion, with a maximum of €2,500. Event must not have received another provincial project subsidy from Oost-Vlaanderen under the 'subsidie voor de ondersteuning van toeristische evenementen' regulation.
Vlaams-Brabant / West-Vlaanderen - Green Key voor logies: Maximum of €750 (incl. VAT for Vlaams-Brabant) per accommodation per year.
De-minimis rule: Several subsidies fall under the European de-minimis regulation, meaning total de-minimis aid to a company cannot exceed €300,000 over three years. This applies to Limburg's investment aid for tourism experience, Limburg's Leisurefonds, and West-Vlaanderen's Green Key label subsidy.
Eligible costs generally include investment costs, operational strengthening activities, business plan development, execution costs, and promotional expenses. Ineligible costs are not explicitly detailed for the overall program but are implied by eligible categories (e.g., sport events for Oost-Vlaanderen event grants).

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Status

'Ondernemingen & organisaties' (enterprises & organizations) are generally eligible.
Specific eligibility varies significantly per provincial measure:
- Limburg - Toeristische logies - investeringsprojecten beleving: Tourist accommodation located in Limburg and licensed/recognized by Toerisme Vlaanderen.
- Limburg - Kleinschalige logies en fietscafés: Small-scale tourist accommodations and 'fietscafés' in Limburg, licensed/recognized by Toerisme Limburg, possessing a 'groeiplan' (growth plan) or 'kansenplan' (opportunity plan) from a professionalization trajectory offered by the Province of Limburg and Toerisme Limburg. Fietscafés also require a specific cycling label.
- Limburg - Leisurefonds (Phase 1): Individual private legal entities with a registered office or proven operations in Limburg.
- Limburg - Leisurefonds (Phase 2): Consortia of at least two companies or organizations. At least one partner must operate in the tourism (NACE 55) and/or horeca (NACE 56) sector, and a signed cooperation agreement is required.
- Oost-Vlaanderen - Toeristische evenementen: Legal entities organizing tourist events. For private legal entities, profit motive should not harm event quality.
- Oost-Vlaanderen - Promotie toeristische evenementen: Public administrations, regional/local tourism partnerships, or private organizers with a cooperation agreement with a public administration or tourism partnership.
- Vlaams-Brabant / West-Vlaanderen - Green Key voor logies: Accommodations located in the respective province. West-Vlaanderen explicitly includes hotels, holiday homes, B&Bs, campsites, youth accommodations, and business locations (conference/meeting venues), and must comply with the 'logiesdecreet' (accommodation decree).

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Windows

Limburg - Toeristische logies - investeringsprojecten beleving: Two submission rounds annually, deadlines are April 30 and October 31.
Limburg - Kleinschalige logies en fietscafés: Applications can be submitted continuously.
Limburg - Leisurefonds:
- Phase 1 (Business Plan candidate submission): Deadlines are March 30 and September 30.
- Phase 2 (Project execution application): Must be submitted within 6 months of approved candidacy, by March 30 or September 30.
Oost-Vlaanderen - Subsidie voor toeristische evenementen: Application deadline is September 14 of the year preceding the event.
Oost-Vlaanderen - Betoelaging promotie toeristische evenementen: Application must be submitted before publication/launch of promotional material (i.e., at the design phase).
Vlaams-Brabant - Subsidie Green Key voor logies: Applications accepted until December 31, 2027.
West-Vlaanderen - Provinciale Green Key subsidie: Subsidies arranged by Westtoer after obtaining or renewing the Green Key label.

Submission Process and Materials

All applications generally require the use of standard application forms, available on the respective provincial websites.
Limburg: Applications involve a standard application form and a de-minimis declaration form.
Oost-Vlaanderen (events): Submit the completed application form via email.
Oost-Vlaanderen (promotion): Submit the application form via email or post, including event description, partners, motivation, distribution plan, circulation numbers, cost estimate with offers, and proof of cooperation for private organizers.
Limburg (Leisurefonds): Separate forms for candidacy (Phase 1) and project application (Phase 2), plus de-minimis declaration from each partner.

Pre-application Support

For Limburg's 'Toeristische logies - investeringsprojecten beleving', pre-assessment of your project is available by contacting a consultant or the 'Vrijetijdseconomie' department of the Province of Limburg.

Project Implementation and Reporting

General control over the allocation and use of subsidies is conducted by the provinces.
For Oost-Vlaanderen event subsidies, the province has the right to control the use of the subsidy based on the 'Reglement van 12 oktober 2005'.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria vary per specific provincial measure, generally focusing on the project's contribution to tourism development and objectives. Limburg - Toeristische logies - investeringsprojecten beleving

Projects are assessed by a jury based on their contribution to increasing the 'belevingswaarde' (experience value) and comfort for guests.

Oost-Vlaanderen - Subsidie voor toeristische evenementen

An advisory commission reviews and selects applications based on:
- Event's significance (at least supra-regional importance).
- Primary goal of attracting tourists to the municipality, region, and/or province.
- Public-oriented nature.
- Time and space limitation.
- Not being a non-tourism event, not primarily competitive, not organized more than once a year, not just a component of a larger event.
Decision made by the 'deputatie' (deputation).

Oost-Vlaanderen - Betoelaging promotie toeristische evenementen

Focus on the promotional material's 'wervende' (attractive) nature and reach (supra-local dissemination).
Positive image and attractiveness for the region, positive impact on horeca, sights, and attractions.

Limburg - Leisurefonds

Phase 1 (Business Plan): Assessment based on the innovation of the proposed product, service, or process in the leisure economy.
Phase 2 (Implementation): Evaluation of the business plan's execution, contributing to a resilient and future-proof leisure sector, and creating added value for participating companies, the sector, and Limburg.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

De-minimis Aid: Several provincial subsidies (Limburg investment aid, Limburg Leisurefonds, West-Vlaanderen Green Key) are subject to the European de-minimis regulation, limiting cumulative aid to €300,000 over three years.
State Aid Rules: Grant allocation adheres to equality principles, competition rules, and state aid regulations.
Accommodation Decree ('Logiesdecreet'): For Green Key subsidies in West-Vlaanderen, accommodation providers must comply with this decree.

Environmental and Ethical Standards

Green Key Label: Grants supporting the Green Key label (Vlaams-Brabant, West-Vlaanderen) require adherence to international sustainability and environmental standards across areas like water, energy, waste, food, mobility, and guest awareness.

Intellectual Property Policies

Not explicitly detailed in the provided documents for the overall program.

Risk Management and Security

Not explicitly detailed for the overall program, beyond the general control over subsidy use.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Opportunities

The program offers a decentralized approach to tourism support, allowing for tailored provincial initiatives.
Opportunities for businesses to align with provincial priorities such as enhancing guest experience, strengthening entrepreneurial skills, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainability.
Collaboration is encouraged for larger innovation projects (Leisurefonds Phase 2).
Specific labels and professionalization trajectories offer structured pathways for improving business operations and obtaining funding.

Grant Details