New Brunswick Will Pay Part Of Your Staycation If You Stick Around

If anybody is looking for something to do this summer, this could make staying local a pretty sweet deal. A New Brunswick staycation incentive program will actually pay residents for taking summer trips within the province. That means people can get some money back for their travel expenses.

The Explore NB Travel Incentive program has started and its goal is to help stimulate the local tourism industry.

With it, New Brunswickers can apply to get a 20% rebate on their expenses for their travels within the province between July 15 and September 30.

There are four categories that are considered eligible expenses that people can get a rebate on: accommodations, food and drink, activities, and travel.

Accommodations include everything from hotels to inns to campsites. 

Museums, art galleries, cultural events, outdoor adventures and attractions are all considered to be activities.

Travel costs can be parking, ferry fees and car rentals.

People can only get money back if their expenses are $1,000 or lower.

To get the rebate people also have to be aged 19 or older, be permanent residents of New Brunswick, have valid and detailed receipts from a registered business and have paid for an overnight stay at an accommodation somewhere in the province.

"This rebate will not only encourage New Brunswickers to travel and discover the natural beauty and diversity of our province but to also support our industries during a period of time they need it the most," said Bruce Fitch, minister of tourism, heritage and culture for the province, in a news release.

People can start taking trips within the province now as part of this program and get some money back.

Applications to get the rebate will be available online and if they want that cash, they have to submit it between October 1 and October 31.

For New Brunswickers who will be taking advantage of the rebate, there's a whole list of what is considered an eligible expense within the four categories.

Staying at a friend's house doesn't count as an expense and neither does groceries. Only food bought from restaurants, food trucks or food stands is eligible.

Travel is slowly restarting with the Atlantic bubble opening and international destinations easing restrictions on tourists.

For anybody who doesn't want to stay local this summer but doesn't want to go international either, there's an interactive map that shows where travel is allowed in Canada.