You can apply for a Visitor Experience Development Grant by going to the official VEDGP webpage https://www.ourcayman.ky/en-us/business-in-tourism/how-to/visitor-experience-development-grant-programme. The entire application process is online, and you will be required to complete an online application with supporting documentation. You should use the guidance notes available on the official webpage.

To qualify for a Visitor Experience Development Grant, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Be 100% Caymanian-owned and staffed per the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision).
• Offer new products and/or services aimed at international visitors.
• 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 Caymanian may be submitted.

No, applicants cannot submit multiple applications.

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.

An individual who is awarded a Visitor Experience Development Grant can receive a maximum of CI$50,000. The total approved 2026 budget for the VEDGP is CI$250,000.

The Grant supports the development of new tourism products/services proposed by Caymanian entrepreneurs. The grant is intended to cover costs directly related to the product or service, with each application assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Your application will be scored by a panel consisting of 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). The highest-scoring applicants will receive grant funding based on the approved budget.

Applicants will be informed of decisions within 30 days of the deadline date.

Disbursements are to be paid out to successful applicants in installments based on requested quotes/invoices.

Once approved for the grant, successful applicants will be required to sign a funding agreement before the disbursement of any funds. 

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. 

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).

If your application is unsuccessful, you may request in writing to receive feedback on your proposal to help improve it for future grant opportunities. You are encouraged to apply again in future application periods if your business concept remains eligible.

For specific questions, you can contact the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development via email at MOTVEDGP@gov.ky. The contact process and details are also available on the official VEDGP website.

Yes. Civil Servants who are not employed by the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development or its related entities can apply for the grant.

Family members of Civil Servants employed by the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development, or its related entities can also apply, but as per the Anti-Corruption Act (2024 Revision) Section 19 (2) where a public officer has a member of their family or a direct associate or a personal interest in a decision that a Government entity, in this case the Ministry of Tourism and Trade Development, is going to take, that the public officer disclose in writing the nature of that personal interest and recuse themselves from any part in the proceedings or decision to award the grant.

Failure to disclose an interest in accordance with the Anti-Corruption Act and who votes or otherwise takes part in proceedings or decisions of the government entity relating to such interest commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of five years.

Yes, you can still apply for the Visitor Experience Development Grant if your business concept introduces a new product or service. The Visitor Experience Development Grant cannot be used to expand or subsidize an existing product or service your business currently provides.