The Bermuda Tourism Authority is to relaunch a grant scheme for businesses as it gears up for the return of tourists in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Glenn Jones, the BTA interim CEO and chief experience development officer, said: “Following nine months of pandemic-related losses, reduced airlift and cruise cancellations the BTA is restarting this vital entrepreneur grant programme as part of tourism industry recovery plans for 2021.

“We hope to support fresh-thinking, visitor-focused initiatives from the minds of talented Bermudians.”

The experience investment programme was shelved in 2020 after the pandemic shut down the tourism industry.

The BTA said businesspeople were invited to create National Tourism Plan-aligned experiences for visitors for the second half of 2021.

Ideas focused on food, water transport, and the travel experience for Black people will receive special consideration as these are priorities for the BTA this year.

Sports tourism experiences are not included.

People interested in sports tourism experiences should click here: https://bta.smapply.io/prog/sports_event_investment_application/

People with ideas for experiences can take part in a virtual how-to workshop at 11am on February 25.

Registration for the workshop is open now. To sign up, visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6517169768987774734.

The workshop will be recorded for anyone unable to attend live.

The online application portal will reopen on March 1 and run to March 15.

Successful businesses will be notified in early April after a review and interview process.