APPENDIX A

Activity & Funding Eligibility Criteria

General

• Preference will be given to initiatives reflecting Nova Scotia’s identified long-haul, geographic target markets: Ontario; Quebec; Alberta, Northeastern United States (New England and Mid-Atlantic); Europe (United Kingdom, German-speaking Europe, Iceland).  Other key gateway markets with direct transportation access to Nova Scotia will also be considered. Activities directed at growing sales outside of these markets will be evaluated based on their potential return on investment.
• Initiatives directed at markets and key product priorities (motorcoach, culinary, golf, cruise, outdoor, culture etc.) which are outlined in the Tourism Plan will be evaluated based upon their market potential and return on investment.
• Activities which encompass the Atlantic Region as a whole (or other destinations) will be funded according to the level of featured Nova Scotia product within the proposed marketing activity and return on investment opportunities for  Nova Scotia and it’s tourism products.
• Activities supported under this program must support Nova Scotia’s brand positioning, where appropriate, i.e. logo, selection of images and copy. Creative concepts must be presented to the Department for approval prior to printing.  Images are available from the Department at no cost to partners.
• Funding for human resources, capital costs (phone, fax, office equipment and supplies etc.), and the production and distribution of core quantities of collateral material (ie. brochures, catalogues) are not eligible for support.
• Funding for website development, maintenance and hosting are not eligible for support.

Funding for specific activities will be based on the following:

Trade Shows/Marketplaces/Consumer Shows/Sales Missions/Sales Calls

• Shows which Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage attends or supports are not eligible for additional support
• Preference given to shows in core markets
• Approved expenses for shows will be supported at 50% in year one. Where partnership support is requested over multiple years, a sliding scale will be applied against show attendance.  Funding will be considered at 30% in year 2 and 15% in year 3.  Support is not available in year 4 for attendance at the same show .
• Eligible costs for show attendance will be provided for 1 person and include: registration costs (booth space, furnishings etc.), hotel, meals at the government per diem of $38.00 per day and transportation to/from the show (air, train, boat, rental car or mileage at the government rate of 40.92 cents/km).

Advertising

• Ads in provincially supported publications and websites (i.e. Doers’ & Dreamers’ Guide, Atlantic Canada Group Tour Planner, Nova Scotia Golf Guide, novascotia.com) are not eligible for support.
• Details of advertising program must be presented before support is confirmed
• Activities supported under this program must support Nova Scotia’s brand positioning, where appropriate, i.e. logo, selection of images and copy. Images are available from the Department.
• Ad creative must be provided to the Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage for approval prior to placement.
• Tear sheets or signed affidavits must be included with invoices.

• Specific direct mail activities will be supported at 50%.
• Creative must be provided to the Department for approval prior to production and distribution.
• General distribution of brochures is not eligible for support.  Incremental distribution costs for direct mailing of brochures will be considered at 50% support.

Familiarization Tours

Fams (trade and media) already being hosted/supported by the Department are not eligible for additional support. The following formula is used to determine the amount of support for fam tours: $75.00 per person, per day while in Nova Scotia.  Details of fam tours are required to be presented before support is confirmed.