DOTS to boost tourism, creative sectors

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts has announced the launch of an exciting initiative that aims to drive innovation and enhance digital capabilities within the vibrant tourism and creative industries of TT.

This initiative, known as the Digitalisation of the Tourism and Creative Sectors (DOTS) programme, is a reimbursement grant that offers financial support and resources to eligible applicants who embarked on digitalisation projects that can transform their businesses and further contribute to the growth of these vital sectors.

DOTS is open to a wide range of operators and providers in the tourism and/or creative sectors, including organisations, groups, companies, and individuals.

Applicants must have been operating in these sectors for a minimum of three years and must submit a detailed proposal outlining their digitalisation project, budget breakdown, target markets, and other relevant details.

Successful applicants will receive reimbursement of 50 per cent of their project expenditure, with a maximum grant limit of TT$50,000.

The funding can be utilised to develop approved digitalisation projects which encompass various aspects of the tourism and creative sectors.

These may include leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as recognition software, mobile apps, chatbots, virtual and augmented reality, and geotagging, among others.

The programme also emphasises long-term digitalisation efforts and trends in digital marketing, music, art, and videography.

Applicants must provide evidence of their project's current status and its expected completion within the specified timeframe which can be found online.

DOTS has a range of key objectives aimed at fostering the growth of the tourism and creative sectors.

These objectives include enhancing the competitiveness of the sectors, increasing visitor arrivals and visitor expenditure, supporting industry partners and stakeholders, and establishing effective

monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for disbursements.

Applications for DOTS will be evaluated by the DOTS committee, which assesses each proposal based on its alignment with programme objectives, feasibility, potential impact, and contribution to the tourism and creative sectors.

Final decisions on grant approvals will be made by the ministry, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.

While DOTS provides a significant opportunity for growth and innovation, there are certain activities that are deemed ineligible for the grant. Projects involving the use or purchase of drones, initiatives unrelated to the tourism and creative sectors, or those promoting violence, lewdness, hatred, or divisiveness will not be considered for funding.

Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to visit the ministry’s website and social media platforms for further information.

The DOTS programme presents an extraordinary opportunity for the tourism and creative sectors in TT to embrace digitalisation and unlock new realms of innovation, improving our tourism product.

By harnessing the available funding and support, participants can revolutionise their businesses, network with other creatives as well, expand their customer demographics by attracting more visitors, and contribute to overall growth and self-sustainability of the sectors while simultaneously increasing the GDP.