The state government has launched a new grant program aimed at enhancing heritage visitor experiences across South Australia.

Grants of between $5000 and $15,000 will be made available under a new Activating Heritage Tourism Small Grants program.

A total of $150,000 is available from the program, which is a partnership between the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and the Tourism Industry Council SA (TiCSA).

Grant applications open on 13 March for businesses offering heritage tourism experiences and products.

Eligible projects can include new tours or experiences, improvements to signage and displays and new physical and digital marketing materials.

DEW Tourism and Visitor Experience Manager Meg Barker says in the 12 months to September 2023, tourism contributed $10.3 billion to the South Australian economy, with $1.3 billion of that attributed to heritage tourism.

“Sharing stories about South Australia’s rich heritage enhances people’s enjoyment of visiting our wonderful state, and heritage tourism makes a significant contribution to our economy,” she says.

TiCSA Chief Executive Officer Shaun de Bruyn says South Australia is bursting with natural, cultural and built heritage, which we want to share with locals and visitors alike.

“But this has to be done in an engaging and contemporary way if we want to be on the map,” he says.

A free online educational workshop, aimed at increasing business heritage tourism capabilities, will be held on Monday 18 March from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 19 April. More information about the grants and how to apply can be found on the TICSA website.