Salzburg Tourism Initiative - Young Entrepreneur Support

The Salzburg Tourism Initiative – Young Entrepreneurs Support promotes the founding and takeover of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism and leisure industry of the state of Salzburg with a direct grant of up to 7.5% of eligible project costs. Eligible applicants are founders and successors who have independently taken over or newly established a tourism or leisure business within the last three years, are organized as SMEs according to the EU definition, maintain a business location in Austria, and are members of the Tourism and Leisure Industry division of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Investments in tangible and intangible assets – such as buildings, equipment, machinery, or software – as well as architect and consulting fees, founder deposits, and purchase prices in business acquisitions are funded. Excluded are, among others, value-added tax, the purchase of fossil fuel plants, land, and used capital goods.

Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2027, exclusively via the submission portal of the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank (OeHT), whereby the submission date also counts for state funding. The funds can be combined with federal and regional programs, provided EU aid regulations are complied with. Key evaluation criteria are the innovativeness of the business concept and sustainability aspects. The decision on grant approval is made by the OeHT based on the directive of the Federal Minister for Labour and Economy for the support of young entrepreneurs. Required documents include the application form, the annex for state funding, a project description, and a detailed financing plan. The objectives of this program are the sustainable strengthening of the competitiveness of the Salzburg tourism sector and the creation of economically stable, future-proof flagship enterprises.