About the Visitor Experience Development Grant Programme
The Cayman Islands is committed to maintaining its status as a world-class tourist destination by constantly evolving and diversifying its offerings. The Visitor Experience Development Grant Programme (VEDGP) is designed to support emerging tourism entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary resources to create unique and authentic experiences that resonate with modern travellers.
Whether it's eco-tourism, cultural heritage, wellness retreats, or luxury experiences, this grant programme seeks to elevate the Cayman Islands' tourism industry by fostering innovation, creativity, sustainability, and economic growth.
Our Mission and Objectives
The VEDGP aims to:
- Identify and Nurture Local Talent: Support emerging Caymanian entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.
- Accelerate Growth: Provide access to funding, enabling rapid development and market entry.
- Promote Market-Aligned Experiences: Encourage the creation of authentic tourism experiences that cater to niche markets.
- Foster Innovation: Incentivize the design of new, unique tourism experiences, including those tailored for luxury, family, and accessible tourism.
Key Guidelines for the Competition
To align with the vision and objectives of the VEDGP, we encourage applicants to consider the following guidelines:
- Distinctive Business Concept
Businesses are encouraged to offer concepts that are unique, innovative, or meaningfully differentiated from competitors within the industry, enhancing the overall diversity and appeal of the destination. - Inclusivity and Accessibility
We encourage businesses to create welcoming environments that accommodate visitors of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. Offerings should be inclusive, accessible, and designed to ensure a positive experience for all members of the community and visitors alike. - Environmental Responsibility
Businesses are encouraged to minimize their environmental impact through sustainable practices, responsible resource use, and environmentally conscious operations. - Promotion of Caymanian Culture
Businesses are encouraged to actively promote and celebrate Caymanian culture, heritage, and identity through their offerings, design, services, or programming. - Support for Local Economic Growth
Businesses should contribute to the growth of the local economy by supporting Caymanian entrepreneurs, employment, suppliers, and long-term economic sustainability.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the VEDGP, applicants must:
- Be 100% Caymanian-owned and staffed per the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision).
- Be compliant with all relevant licensing and statutory requirements as stipulated under the Trade and Business Licencing Act and other relevant statutory requirements.
- Complete the application form in its provided format. Only one application per owner may be submitted.
When to Apply
The application period is 23 March 2026 to 1 May 2026. Applications should be submitted no later than the
1 May 2026 deadline. Late submissions will not be reviewed.
These defined application periods ensure that your application will receive the appropriate amount of time to be evaluated following the application deadline.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply by clicking the form link below, completing the application online, and attaching all required documents. Be sure to follow the guidelines carefully to ensure your application is filled out correctly. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
For a smoother application experience, please have the following documents on hand:
- Trade & Business Licence (TBL)
- Proof of Cayman Status, i.e., Voter’s ID or Acknowledgement/Continuation of the Right to be Caymanian from WORC
- Cayman Islands Government-issued photographic ID, i.e., Passport or Driver’s Licence
Disclaimer: All applications are subject to the review and approval processes. The grant is limited to available funding and competitive scoring criteria.
Application Process
- Submission Stage
Applicants must complete the online application form, attach all required supporting documents, and submit it by the specified deadline. - Evaluation Stage
A panel consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development (MTTD), The Ministry of Youth Sports, Culture and Heritage (MYSCH), the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT), and the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development (CICBD) will review and score all applications based on the established criteria. - Final Selection Stage
The highest-scoring applicants will receive grant funding, subject to the approved budget and availability of funds.
Successful Applications
Please bear in mind that successful applicants will be subject to the following conditions:
- Awards up to KYD $50,000 will be based on the provision of evidence, i.e., quotes and/or invoices, regarding the expected use of the requested funds.
- Once approved for the grant, successful applicants will be required to submit evidence that funds were solely used for business operations. Otherwise, cessations of funding and/or repayment of funds received will apply. Applicants must comply with all requests for documentation relating to expenses.
- The grant will be awarded to the highest-scoring applicants, as determined by the scoring criteria. As such, a limited number of grants will be awarded, determined by the total funding provided in the approved TP 122 budget.
- Successful applicants must participate in workshops provided by the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development (CICBD) and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT).
- Successful applicants must complete a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) form for monitoring by the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development (MTTD).
Appeals
All requests for review of the final scoring and/or grant award decisions must be in writing from the applicant and submitted via MOTVEDGP@gov.ky to the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development within seven (7) days of being notified of the decision of their VEDGP application.
Contact Information
- Email: MOTVEDGP@gov.ky
- Phone: 345 244 2419
- Address: Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development, GAB, 133 Elgin Ave, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands