The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, recently announced funding opportunities for Australia's tourism industry by opening a new program to give tourism operators the chance to revolutionise their products.

The project called 'Strategic Tourism Investment Grants' has funding of up to $1 million and is to be matched dollar for dollar with private sector investment.

Strategic Tourism Investment Grants, part of TQUAL Grants program, will provide targeted "seed funding" for around 20 nationally significant, innovative projects aimed at supporting Indigenous tourism, economic development and tourism employment.

It is proposed these projects would be used to pilot approaches that could be adopted more widely across Australia. Projects to be funded will be announced from time to time and calls for grant applications to deliver the projects will be made over the four years of the program.

The Government has called on suggestions for these grants to be put forward by the tourism industry, all levels of government, community groups and individuals, which can be made via an online form.

Tourism Quality Projects will provide funding of up to $100,000 (plus GST) for smaller scale projects to support collaborative community tourism industry development projects, particularly those which stimulate private sector investment.

Applications close on 15 April 2011.

Further information on Tourism Quality Projects and Strategic Tourism Investment Grants is available at the website, by phoning 13 28 46; or by emailing tqualgrants@ret.gov.au.