Public assistance programmes provide the tourism sector with support and/or development aid from public administrations.
![public_assistance.png](/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_medium_no_crop/public/2017-12/public_assistance_0_0.png?itok=4z453JxS)
Funding comes from a variety of sources and can be used for a variety of purposes. There is a wide range of public programmes which aim to
- increase tourism
- improve tourist destinations
- increase competitiveness
Broadly speaking, there are two types of public assistance programmes
- programmes financed by the EU and transnational funds
- national programmes, with financing usually from government funds – these programmes mostly result from national guidelines or tourism strategy, where the government sets out the main lines of action in tourism
Public programmes in tourism generally follow one of 2 main lines of action
![typesofprogrammes.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_medium_no_crop/public/2017-12/typesofprogrammes_0_0.jpg?itok=5qHiP2x-)
- programmes aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises – these include projects which
- improve the quality of tourism facilities
- support technological innovation
- provide training activities for human resources companies
- provide marketing support
- programmes aimed at strengthening tourist destinations – these indirectly create benefits for entrepreneurs, and include projects which
- promote destinations
- create new products
- rehabilitate and/or improve tourism infrastructure
- invest in nature and/or culture
See more in the guide on EU funding for the tourism sector 2014-2020.
Further reading on financial issues
Tourism-related taxes across the EU
Tutorials
Learn about the different financing opportunities available for tourism business projects.