There may be funding for this.

Funded by Tourism Nova Scotia and run by Digital Nova Scotia since 2020. More than 200 tourism businesses have used it to get found online and make booking easy.

What it pays for

Any mix of:

• Website design and development, including AI chatbots and automations
• Online booking
• E-commerce (gift cards, merchandise, tickets)
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Data analytics
• Digital marketing planning
• Social media planning
• Copywriting
• Digital branding and design
• Photography and video to fill content gaps

What you pay

Nothing. Approved businesses get up to $5,000 in services, tax included, and the consultant invoices Digital Nova Scotia directly.

Who qualifies

• You’re listed on NovaScotia.com (no listing, no TDAP: see below)
• You’re open to travellers this year, with your permits and licences in place
• Roofed accommodations are on the province’s short-term rental registry
• You’re in good standing with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies
• You have a clear digital need and can finish the work by March 31

What helps an application

It’s competitive, and the panel scores applications. Preference goes to:

• First-time applicants
• Businesses extending their season or moving toward year-round
• Operations focused on attracting and serving visitors
• Experiences built on culture and heritage, local flavours, or outdoor and coastal activities
• Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian businesses, and others from underrepresented communities

Been through TDAP before? You can apply again. You’ll need to show how the new work builds on what you already did, and that’s exactly the kind of plan we write.

Good to know

• Up to $3,000 can go to photography or video. Those photos are owned by Tourism Nova Scotia and shared with you, and may be used in provincial marketing. We’re approved by Tourism Nova Scotia as photographers and videographers, so we can shoot it ourselves.
• Up to $1,000 can go to subscriptions, software and campaign testing.
• Work usually runs late spring to fall and must wrap by March 31.

You can ask for us

Digital Nova Scotia gives approved businesses a short list of recommended consultants, and you choose. Tell us you’re applying and we’ll help you note your preference in the application.

Timing: The 2026-27 intake closed April 16, 2026. Applications typically open in early spring. Talk to us over the winter so you’re ready the day it opens.

The same idea as TDAP, scaled up for the organizations that promote a whole town or region.

What it pays for

The same list of services as TDAP, aimed at selling your community as a destination: what to see, where to stay, where to eat, and how to get there.

What you pay

Nothing. Up to $15,000 in services, tax included. Up to $2,500 can go to subscriptions and campaign testing, and up to $3,000 to photography or video.

Who qualifies

• Nova Scotia municipalities
• Chambers of commerce
• Member-based tourism organizations
• Regional destination marketing organizations focused on specific communities

You need to have operated for more than a year, have a track record of promoting travel to your community, and have someone on staff to manage the project.

What helps an application

First-time applicants, season extension, and a clear story about how the work will grow tourism in your area, such as championing a region or a product cluster like food, trails or heritage.

We know this side from the inside

We’re an approved TDAP-Communities consultant. Michael chairs the Mahone Bay Tourism & Chamber of Commerce and has run mahonebay.com since 2020. We understand board approvals, volunteer capacity and member expectations, and we build sites that member businesses actually benefit from.

Timing: The 2026-27 intake closed May 14, 2026. Expect the next round in spring.

Not just for tourism. AI DAP helps established Nova Scotia businesses in any sector move from wondering about AI to using it, with training first and funding second. It’s delivered with the Province of Nova Scotia and ACOA.

How it works

1. Training. One or two of your leaders complete AI Leadership Training through NSCC: about 15 hours, online, at your own pace.
2. Apply for the grant. Once training is done, you can apply for the AI Adoption Grant.
3. Plan. Digital Nova Scotia assigns a consultant from its approved roster to shape the project.
4. Implement. A delivery partner builds it.

What it pays for

75% of eligible project costs, up to $8,500 + HST. You cover the other 25%.

Typical projects:

• Automating repetitive admin: quotes, intake forms, scheduling, follow-ups
• AI-powered customer service, like a website assistant that answers booking questions at 11 p.m.
• Better reporting, so decisions come from data instead of guesswork
• Rolling out AI tools responsibly, with your team trained to use them

Who qualifies

• Registered, based and operating in Nova Scotia
• At least five employees
• In business for at least two years
• Able to put a senior leader through the training

You don’t need a project figured out to apply. The training is designed to help you find one.

Good to know

Spots are limited and applications are scored. Finishing the training doesn’t guarantee the grant. Consultants are assigned by Digital Nova Scotia, and we’re on the roster. See what AI work looks like in practice in our AI services.

Timing: The first intake closed February 23, 2026. Ask us to let you know when the next one opens.

As members of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, we keep an eye on what’s available to operators.

• Quality Mentoring Program: pairs owners and operators with qualified mentors on targeted business topics. Spots are limited.
• Seasonal Tourist Business Designation: a property tax program for seasonal restaurants, accommodations and campgrounds closed at least four months a year. Apply to PVSC every year; the deadline was September 1 for the 2027 roll.
• Training through NSTHRC: service excellence and certification for front-line staff, supervisors and managers.
• Member savings: discounts on card processing, energy, marketing and more.