WELLINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government will open the fourth round of application of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) from Aug. 1, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis said on Sunday.

The TIF provides up to 25 million NZ dollars (16.6 million U.S. dollars) annually to support regions in developing critical tourism infrastructure.

"Tourism is a vital part of New Zealand's success and we need to make sure we provide both our communities with the facilities they need and our visitors with the experiences they expect," Davis said in a statement.

The TIF supports thriving and sustainable regions by helping communities make the most out of the opportunities that tourism brings, he said, adding round four of the TIF will have a focus on projects that retain community support for tourism and deliver exceptional visitor experiences.

"We're encouraging a diverse range of innovative projects that address potential capacity issues and future-proof local tourism infrastructure," the minister said, adding successful projects will be announced in November.