EU Grant Scheme for Sustainable Tourism Projects by Enterprise: Application Form • Esmeralda Attard • Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit • Office of the Prime Minister Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2007 -2013 Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life Aid Schemes part-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Co-financing: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future
Section 4 Strategic Priorities
The Horizontal priorities The Horizontal Priorities areas which lie at the core of all projects co-financed by the structural funds. These priorities ensure that the projects are linked to national policies and priorities as well as EU policies and priorities. Activities proposed under all the intervention areas must make reference to Horizontal Themes Linking the project proposal to both priorities will ensure a higher scoring: 1. Environmental sustainability 2. Equal opportunities
Horizontal Priority 1: Environmental Sustainability is the ability to maintain the qualities that are valued in the physical environment Relating the project to Environmental Sustainability: Ø adopt a ‘recycle everything/buy recycled’ approach Ø increase energy and water efficiency Ø use waste management methods Ø redesign production processes to reduce pollution protect and restore natural habitats and environments valued for beauty Ø Ø attain eco-certification
Horizontal Priority 2: Equal Opportunities Equal opportunities can be defined as the absence of discrimination based on race, colour, age, gender, national origin, religion or mental or physical disability Equal opportunities link to Employment + Products/services offered
Horizontal Priority 2: Equal Opportunities Relating the project to equal opportunities: Ø Addressing needs of families with children Ø Improved accessibility for employees and for clients Ø Improved accessibility for persons with different needs Ø Creating/safeguarding employment for women Ø Devising an equality policy and audit Ø Protection and promotion of employment of disadvantaged groups
The Thematic priorities Each application will be evaluated on the basis of the following areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. Impact on ICT Impact on Innovation and Competitiveness Impact on Employment Issues Compliance with National Tourism Policies Thematic priorities were selected to ensure that funds will result in an improved performance of tourism, rendering positive economic, environmental and social impacts Failure to contribute to any of the above priorities will result in loss of marks on that respective priority
Thematic priority 1: Impact on ICT can improve operational processes, increase efficiency, and target ICT-focused travellers Relating the project to ICT: Ø Transfer of new ICT technologies into the business Ø Upgrading the environmental performance of the enterprise through the use of new ICT technology or types of software Ø Product/process innovation/improvement through technology
Thematic Priority 2: Impact on Innovation The need to ‘innovate’ and the importance of innovation in tourism is vital to achieve a competitive edge for a country, destination or a product. The use of innovation is always highlighted as a requirement to succeed. The classic dictionary definition of innovate is “to renew, alter, to introduce something new, to make changes”. Added to the definition above “… in order to maintain a market-led, customer focused tourism offer”
Thematic priority 2: Impact on Innovation Relating the project to Innovation and Competitiveness: Ø Research related to investment in new products and services Ø Improvement in the efficiency of enterprises Ø Further cooperation between enterprises and nonenterprises Ø Innovation in various aspects of enterprise operations including access to new technologies and management processes
Thematic Priority 3: Impact on Employment Issues Relating the project to Employment Issues: Ø Ensuring activities which allow job retention and create new employment possibilities Ø Creating specialisation within enterprises so as to increase the specialised skill force Ø Creating activities that will attract more tourists not only to the entity but also to Malta and in so doing, generating indirect employment
Thematic Priority 4: Compliance with the National Tourism Policy In order to ensure compliance with national priorities, the Grant Scheme application forms submitted are required to relate to the Tourism Policy for the Maltese Islands
Objectives of the Tourism Policy for Malta Ø To manage tourism in Malta & Gozo on the principles of sustainable development Ø To increase tourism earnings & tourism value added Ø To sustain existing jobs & create more & better jobs Ø To achieve a fair distribution of income Ø To increase our competitive advantage Ø To mitigate seasonality Ø To capitalise on the unique characteristics of Gozo Ø To increase accessibility to & from Malta Ø To benefit from e-business in tourism Ø To maximise on Malta’s membership in the European Union
Applying Tourism Policy to Grant Scheme Thematic Priority 4: National Tourism Policy Seasonality General Policy
What can you do to make your tourism offer more attractive for the off-peak season? Seasonality MARKETING PRODUCT INNOVATION MARKET RESEARCH
Marketing Ø Off-peak activities – City breaks/Cultural touring/Events Ø Niche markets – Sports/Diving & other Watersports/Walks/ Health & Wellness/Educationals Ø Gozo as an off-peak destination for relaxation/green tourism Ø MICE segment – Varied types & sizes of conference groups, incentives, business travel Ø Creating the right image & perception of the Maltese Islands in overseas markets – highlight novelty of destination/climate/use of English language/rich history
What can you do to make your tourism offer more attractive for the off-peak season? Seasonality MARKETING PRODUCT INNOVATION MARKET RESEARCH
Product Offer Ø Upgrade product/service to provide a quality offer where standards exceed tourist expectations and Malta’s value for money is augmented Ø Focus on accessibility amongst tourism zones, in and around the Islands Ø Contribute towards green initiatives and ameliorate the overall product by adopting resource-efficient systems Ø Conduct benchmarking exercises to identify international product standards and improve accordingly to increase Malta’s competitiveness Ø Introduce off-peak tourism activities, attracting niche markets from a wider selection of countries
What can you do to make your tourism offer more attractive for the off-peak season? Seasonality 10% MARKETING PRODUCT INNOVATION MARKET RESEARCH
Innovation Ø Link the tourism product offer with the aspect of innovation to improve processes Ø Innovative ways of marketing especially through new media Ø Focus on the aspects that characterise our islands
What can you do to make your tourism offer more attractive for the off-peak season? Seasonality 10% MARKETING PRODUCT INNOVATION MARKET RESEARCH
Market Research Ø Acquire information regarding current market trends and how to improve current product/service offered accordingly Ø Use data to devise strategy to capture new targeted markets Ø Identify the market with most potential for off-peak business & focus on it Ø Identify the organisation’s as well as Malta’s strengths in relation to the market being targeted
Applying Tourism Policy to Grant Scheme National Tourism Policy Seasonality General Policy
What is the General Policy? Structural Reforms General Policy Product Offer & Destination Management Creating the right perception Employment
1. Structural Reforms Underperforming sectors of tourism in Malta are required to undergo a structural reform Ø Improve the level of service provision and quality of offer to provide value for money Ø Innovation in the product and marketing strategies Ø Fast adaptation to changing travel patterns and to ways of doing business
2. Product Offer and Destination Management Ø Improve infrastructure to facilitate access to and from tourism zones including signage and information material on places of interest pertaining to those zones Ø Enhance tourist literature and its provision Ø Work towards attainment of Eco-certification and Blue Flag Status Ø Conserve Malta’s cultural heritage sites Ø Increase element of innovation and creativity through investment in Exhibitions/Performing Arts Focus on the Maltese Islands’ uniqueness
3. Employment, Education, Lifelong learning Ø Promote the right environment leading to the creation of more & better jobs in the tourism sector Ø Invest in tourism education and awareness at all levels – instilling skills required, right attitude towards work, hospitality Ø Continue to raise the local population’s appreciation of our cultural & natural assets i. e. training, courses, events
4. Creating the right image and perception of the Maltese Islands Market: Ø Malta’s core values of Hospitality, Heritage, and Diversity alongside product/service offered Ø Malta’s competitiveness in terms of better quality standards vis-àvis competing destinations Ø Gozo’s image as a rural destination, green & unspoilt, ideal for relaxation and integrating with locals – developing it as an ecoisland Use market research to cater for the various types of tourism received and to attract new ones through promotion of new activities to be offered in Malta
Project indicators Applicants are to mark at least: - one Output Indicator - one Result Indicator - one Impact Indicator For each of the indicators selected, a value must be provided. An explanation on how the proposed indicators for output, result and impact have been calculated is to be provided.
Project indicators All indicators are binding and contribute towards the evaluation of the project Indicators must be met following completion of the project, therefore applicants are urged to give this section of the application form importance
Section 5 Project Budget
Eligible Costs All activities falling within the five eligible intervention areas identified in the application form are eligible and therefore can be co-funded All net eligible costs listed in the application form must be exclusive of VAT as it is not an eligible expense The amount entered in the application form consists of the total eligible cost, i. e. : consists of the public and private co-financing
Project Financing Since there are both public and private funds involved, applicants are to indicate how the project will be financed All applicants must submit a signed and stamped letter from a certified auditor confirming the availability of 100% of the total project value In case of Bank Loans, applicants also require: Ø A signed and stamped sanction letter from the bank to confirm the loan
Section 6 Supporting Documents
Checklist of Documents The application form together with all the necessary supporting documents are to be submitted by the deadline stipulated A list of the necessary documents to be submitted with the application form is provided in this section Failure to submit any of the obligatory supporting documents or documentation where applicable may result in the project being considered ineligible for funding The IB will not be extending the deadline to allow for documentation not submitted
Certification The applicant must be aware of the following when submitting the application form: Ø ensure that all details are correct Ø the funds requested will be used for the project proposed Ø declare that there is no reason why project should be delayed thereby committing to the timeline Ø understand that if not completed in the relevant detail and in every aspect, the application may be rejected
Submission Original application must be type written and must be signed in blue by the signatory by not later than the deadline specified in each call Submission must be delivered by hand to the IB representative in a sealed envelope with the : Ø Name of the scheme Ø Name of the Enterprise
Annexes
Annex 1: Enterprise/Association Declaration Form In this annex, the applicant must clearly show: Ø Annual turnover Ø Balance Sheet total And whether, the enterprise is: Ø Autonomous Ø Partner Ø Linked Should the applicant select ‘partner’ or ‘linked’ enterprise, the information of all the entities must be outlined, including the percentage of shareholding
Annex 2: State Aid Declaration Assistance from the Scheme to an independent, private enterprise, must not result in the applicant having received in excess of € 150, 000 in State Aid, for a rolling period of 3 years Therefore, it is important to show any aid obtained including any public funding deriving from this or any other sources of the Structural Funds or any other State Aid that the company benefited from in the last 3 years If unsure whether aid received was De. Minimis Aid, check with organisation that provided it
Annex 2: State Aid Declaration N. B. This information must be given for each year in the past 3 years (2008, 2009 and 2010) and a total must be drawn up at the end The applicant must also indicate whethere any pending applications submitted for funding under any other schemes
Annex 3: Declaration of Selected Quotations Applicants are required to: - Submit 3 comparable quotations per activity from three different suppliers worldwide - Choose the cheapest offer If the cheapest quote is not selected, the IB will only able to co-fund up to the value of the cheapest quote
Annex 3: Declaration of Selected Quotations It is very important to… Ø Use Guidance Notes to provide details of quotations as required e. g. Price excluding and including VAT, technical specifications if equipment, VAT number Ø Do not submit quotations with various options as total cost of quotation has to correspond to total stated in project budget Ø Always itemise – avoid ‘miscellaneous’ Ø Quotations must be official & Sign the Annex in blue
Annex 4: Notarial Declaration of Ownership Applicants are to provide a signed declaration by a notary ascertaining ownership of immovable property based on searches conducted by the notary
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