sadas
 

Women in Tech Startup Competition Middle East 2nd Edition 2024

Her Vision, Our Future

SDGs
 

Innovative entrepreneurship has disrupted the tourism sector, changing the ways people travel and experience destinations, and in doing so driving digitalization and sustainability. At the same time, tourism offers many opportunities for prospective entrepreneurs in tourism-adjacent sectors to grow their businesses and capitalize on the demand for goods and services from incoming tourists. The synergies between tourism entrepreneurship and innovation are well-founded and can be meaningfully strengthened. A key enabler in this regard is fostering environments for investors to empower entrepreneurs to push the sector forward.

Why women in tech?

57% of science technology engineering and math (STEM) graduates in the Middle East are women. 34% of the region’s tech-focused startups were founded by women. However, globally, women founders secured only 2.2% of global venture capital funding in 2019.

Countries across the Middle East, have integrated innovation and women empowerment within their long-term economic development plans. This is the case of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, where increasing women's participation in the labor force is a strategic target. (Saudi female participation has already risen from 16% to 35.6% between 2016 and 2021). In the GCC region, a robust entrepreneurial culture has fuelled a surge in start-up businesses led by women, averaging at 40.9% of the total, according to World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) 2022 Global Gender Gap report.

Women in Tech 2nd Edition Theme: Creating a Sustainable Tourism Sector

This year’s theme will be directly linked with the UN Tourism Investment Framework: Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity.

Presented during World Tourism Day 2023, it reflects a growing consensus among sector stakeholders about the need to diversify away from the traditional investment framework to a new one where people (education), planet (green transformation), and prosperity (innovation) are at the center to guarantee the development of a sustainable tourism sector.

This framework is at the same time anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of the Agenda 2030. As we have already passed the halfway point to 2030, every sector must increase efforts in the path towards sustainability. The tourism sector is not different – the tourism sector has to be at the forefront of this sustainable transformation due to its multiplier impact across all economic industries, and also by offering high-quality jobs, and supporting countries in bringing prosperity to rural areas and less favored communities.

Hence, the categories of the competition will be based on the mentioned key elements, which are economic, social, and environmental factors.

 

  • Startups must be led, owned or managed by women in the Middle East, residing in any of the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
  • Be an Idea Stage, Early Stage, or Series A startups with a minimum viable product or idea that is ready to be developed and funded.
  • Have a full-time team, a tested pilot, and a business plan.
  • Be scalable with potential for international growth.

The competition will be divided into 3 categories: Tech categories relevant to Sustainable Tourism and connected directly to our UN Tourism Investment Framework: Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity.

Category 1:
People & Skills | Investing in People

It is no secret that people lie at the heart of the tourism sector. Millions of people support the sector either through working in tourism-related industries or simply traveling. This category focuses on solutions that build human capital capacities in the tourism sector. Top solutions will facilitate the upskilling and training of the tourism workforce around the world by utilizing innovative and creative options that are inclusive, effective, and accessible.

This category calls for start-ups that use environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches in education tech, tourism & travel tech, social & messaging, wellness, health, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.

Start-ups involved in the above areas are invited to participate in this competition under this thematic area.

Category 2:
Green Tourism & Travel Solutions | Investing in Planet

The tourism sector relies on travel and mobility, which can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The sector is also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This category will feature solutions that aim to address emissions from traveling and/or increase the resilience of the sector to the adverse effects of climate change. Top solutions will be tailored to local contexts, manage emissions, and offer new and innovative technological solutions that can address climate change and ensure the sustainable growth of the sector globally.

This category calls for start-ups that use environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches in green tech, green infrastructure, sustainable travel & logistics, urban development, rural development, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.

Start-ups involved in the above areas are invited to participate in this competition under this thematic area.

Category 3:
Market Innovators | Investing in Prosperity

Digitalization is no longer a trend in the Middle East, it is here to stay for all sectors, including tourism. The region is moving towards implementing a smart destinations approach to tourism that leverages different emerging technologies.

This category calls for startups working in the areas of fintech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), cryptocurrency, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and web3 technology, digital twining and the metaverse.

Start-ups involved in the above areas are invited to participate in this competition under this thematic area.

  • Pitch at the UN Tourism Tech Adventure in AlUla taking place in November (TBC)
  • Mentorships by UN Tourism and top partners. (TBC)
  • Invited to participants to any relevant new activities related to tourism, sustainability and business.
  • Invited to participate in the annual Gala WITH Female Leaders to be held in Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao in 2025.
  • Invitated to participate in online training events and networking meetings.
  • Tailored support for the startup.
  • Membership in the UN Tourism Innovation Network.
  • Scholarship opportunities for the Tourism Online Academy.
  • Media, PR and communications benefits. 
  • Opportunities to speak as panelists and keynote in our events.

LaunchLaunch of the competition: May 8th  at the Annual Investment Meeting 
Closing Closing date for applications: 1st October
AnnouncementAnnouncement of pre-selected Startups on online platform: November 15 (TBC)
Review Review and Evaluation Period: 1-25th October 2024 (TBC)
Notification Notification of selected finalists: 1st November 2024 (TBC)
Review Acceleration and Mentorships by experts in the field: December 2024 (TBC)
 

Travel Partner

Almosafa
UN Tourism News

UN Tourism News

To mark the start of the United Nations ‘Decade of Action’, UN Tourism News was launched to provide the latest updates of UN Tourism’s work and key insights from the world of tourism as the sector leads the way in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Tourism News 80

UN Tourism News 80

Offering more diverse experiences and investing in talented people will play a key role in helping mountain areas grow tourism in a sustainable and responsible manner. The 12th World Congress on Snow, Mountain and Wellness Tourism identified key challenges, among them climate change and evolving consumer trends, while recognizing the role tourism can play in the protection of the fragile mountain ecosystem, the building of resilience for mountain communities, and the preservation of the local heritage.

Diversification, Innovation and Sustainability

UN Tourism News 79

UN Tourism News 79

A groundbreaking statistical framework, developed under the leadership of UN Tourism, has been adopted by all 193 UN member states.
The Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) thus becomes the internationally agreed reference framework for measuring the economic, social and environmental aspects of tourism.
 

Data, Sustainability and Collaboration

UN Tourism News 78

UN Tourism News 78

With the latest UN Tourism data showing international arrivals returning to 88% of pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2023, emphasis has now shifted to protecting the sector from future shocks. The official visit of the delegation led by Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili coincided with the second Global Tourism Resilience Day. A series of high-level meetings in Jamaica also advanced shared efforts around ethical, inclusive and sustainable tourism as well as the priorities of education and investment.

Official Visits Spotlight Tourism for Culture and Prioritise Investments

UN Tourism News 77

UN Tourism News 77

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enter a new era with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that "people and planet" are always center stage.

Bringing the world closer
fd
 

Artificial Intelligence and Deep Technologies for the
Good of People, Planet and Prosperity

APPLY HERE

 

In the era of rapid technological advancement, the tourism industry stands on the precipice of transformation, fueled by the immense potential of artificial intelligence (AI). As we witness a resurgence in international travel, with projections indicating a near-complete recovery of almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the close of 2023, the role of AI in shaping the future of tourism has never been more prominent.

Recent data underscores the pivotal role of AI in revolutionizing the tourism landscape. AI-powered solutions have been instrumental in enhancing personalized travel experiences, optimizing operational efficiency, and unlocking new avenues for sustainable tourism practices. Harnessing innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advances plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable tourism development, and the tourism sector can significantly contribute to this endeavor through innovative approaches.

These innovations are revolutionizing every aspect of the traveler’s journey and reshaping the sector, such as:

  1. AI facilitating immersive experiences that enhance the overall quality of travel through Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR);
  2. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are streamlining the booking process, providing real-time assistance, and addressing customer inquiries promptly and efficiently;
  3. AI presents opportunities for optimizing operational efficiencies, enhancing marketing strategies, and gaining insights into consumer behaviors and trends. By leveraging data analytics and predictive modeling, businesses can make informed decisions, anticipate market demands, and innovate their offerings to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape;
  4. AI holds promise for promoting sustainability within the tourism sector. By analyzing environmental data and monitoring tourist activities, AI-powered solutions can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and natural resources.

The pace of AI adoption within businesses is accelerating, surpassing the rate of previous digital transformations by an average of 16 months. This rapid integration of AI technologies underscores the urgency for the tourism sector to embrace AI-driven transformations and leverage its potential to drive sustainable growth and innovation. Therefore, UN Tourism aims to harness the transformative capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep technologies to foster an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship within the tourism sector.

Against this backdrop, UN Tourism is proud to announce the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Impacting Tourism Innovation Challenge! By leveraging AI technologies, startups, and innovators have the opportunity to revolutionize the way we travel, explore destinations, and interact with local communities. By leveraging AI and related advancements, we need to unlock the sector's full potential in terms of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development along People, Planet, and Prosperity.

As we embark on this journey of discovery and innovation, the competition aims to spotlight the most groundbreaking AI-driven solutions that have the potential to reshape the tourism landscape and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. 

 

Join us in reimagining the future of tourism through the lens of Artificial Intelligence!

Apply Now!

 

In the People category, startups are invited to harness AI-driven solutions to foster positive social impact within the tourism sector:

  • Personalized Experiences: Develop AI solutions that tailor travel experiences to individual preferences, demographics, and interests, enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement.
  • Accessible Tourism: Create AI-powered tools and services that enhance accessibility for travelers with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity and equal opportunities for all.
  • Language Translation: Overcome language barriers in tourism by facilitating communication between tourists and locals, thereby enriching the overall travel experience.
  • Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Apply AI in customer services and booking processes, offering 24/7 support, assisting with bookings, and providing travel advice across various platforms like websites and messaging apps.
  • Risk Management: Utilize AI-driven risk assessment tools to enhance travelers' safety and security by analyzing factors such as weather conditions, geopolitical events, and health risks.

The Planet category challenges startups to demonstrate AI's transformative potential in addressing climate change, preserving natural ecosystems, and promoting sustainable energy within the tourism sector:

  • Sustainable Resource Management: Develop AI-driven solutions to optimize resource allocation, waste management, and energy consumption in tourism destinations, thus promoting environmental sustainability.
  • Eco-friendly Transportation: Implement AI technologies to enhance transportation efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and promote eco-friendly travel options like electric vehicles and public transportation.
  • Biodiversity Conservation: Utilize AI for monitoring and protecting biodiversity hotspots, identifying endangered species, and mitigating the impact of tourism on fragile ecosystems.
  • Smart Destinations: Introduce smart destination management systems to enhance visitor experiences, improve infrastructure management, and optimize resource allocation in tourist destinations.

In the Prosperity category, startups are challenged to drive responsible consumption, sustainable urban development, and innovation in tourism infrastructure through AI-driven solutions:

  • Community Empowerment: Create AI-driven initiatives that empower local communities through tourism, fostering economic opportunities, cultural exchange, and entrepreneurship
  • Data-driven Decision Making: Develop AI tools for analyzing tourism data, market trends, and consumer behavior to enable informed decision-making and business growth.
  • Tourism Innovation: Foster innovation in the tourism sector by leveraging AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and drive sustainable business practices.
  • Predictive Maintenance: Implement AI-powered predictive maintenance to enhance operational reliability and cost savings, enabling tourism businesses to anticipate and prevent equipment failure and maintenance issues.
  • Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: Enhance VR and AR applications to provide immersive experiences for travelers, transforming destination marketing and pre-travel planning.
  • Dynamic Pricing: Utilize AI algorithms to optimize pricing strategies based on demand, seasonality, and other factors, maximizing revenue for hotels, airlines, and other tourism businesses.
 
 

In collaboration with:

Plug and play
 

Main partners:

Alpitour
Tui Care Foundation
Les Roches
Spark

Ecosystem Collaborators:

Unicoin
Amadeus
Amadeus Capital Partner
Wayra
Telefonica
Fundación Carolina
 

Fundación Carolina Ambassadors of the Spanish Language Award

In this edition, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain and the Carolina Foundation, there will also be an excellent opportunity for startups related to the Spanish language. The partners are looking for startups related to the Spanish language that have a positive impact on the selected SDGs, especially number 4 (quality education). The winners of the "Spanish language Tourism Award" will have access to participate in a Carolina Foundation Visitors program.

 


Format

Startups from all walks of life, from all over the world and all economic sectors are invited to participate if meeting the following criteria:

  • Be innovative in nature providing value-added solutions
  • Be sustainability-driven
  • Be scalable: to have potential for international growth and potential to be applied in corporations and destinations (countries, regions)
  • Be an Early Stage or Series A startup
  • Have a tested pilot and business plan
  • Have been accelerated before
  • Have a full-time team

All ways of innovation are welcome: new methods, processes, governance models, social impact initiatives, and technologies.

To be eligible for the "Global TUI Female Futureshaper Award", you need to be a female-led startup registered in one of the following countries:

  • North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia)
  • Caribbean (Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire)
  • South East Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia)
  • Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey)
  • Sub-Sahara Africa (Cabo Verde, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Senegal, The Gambia, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles)

To be eligible for the "Spanish Lanuage Tourism Award" you have to be a startup registered in one of the following countries:

  • Countries of the Ibero-American Community of nations.

1. People Category

Startups that reshape tourism into a force for positive social change by addressing education, health, and gender equality. Looking for initiatives that leave a lasting impact on communities and individuals.

  • Environmental: Startups focus on enhancing community well-being through health-centric tourism experiences and wellness initiatives.
  • Sociocultural: Startups promote gender equality by addressing disparities in employment and celebrating diversity in travel experiences.
  • Economic: Startups develop quality education initiatives and skill development projects within the tourism sector.

2. Planet Category

Startups demonstrate how tourism combats climate change, embraces sustainable energy, and preserves ecosystems.

  • Environmental: Startups lead against climate change through carbon offset programs and sustainable accommodations.
  • Sociocultural: Startups explore affordable and clean energy solutions in tourism, promoting renewable sources and energy-efficient practices.
  • Economic: Startups focus on preserving natural ecosystems through sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts, including marine ecosystem conservation.

3. Prosperity Category

Startups drive responsible consumption, sustainable urban development, and innovation in tourism infrastructure.

  • Environmental: Startups promote responsible consumption and production in hospitality, advocating for sustainable tourism practices.
  • Sociocultural: Startups envision sustainable urban development by engaging communities and preserving culture.
  • Economic: Startups innovate in tourism services and infrastructure, contributing to industry growth and resilience.

Participating startups will be assessed according to their:

  • Contribution to the selected Sustainable Development Goals
  • Ease of value capture via collaboration with the startup
  • Potential business impact
  • Maturity of the product/technology
  • Maturity of the team and the organization
  • Partnership readiness

Benefits for finalists and winning startups include but are not limited to:

  • Travel and accommodation to pitch at the UN Tourism Demo Day for all finalists
  • 2 months acceleration Programme at SPARK, the Innovation Sphere of Les Roches for the winners
  • Access to 90+ Venture Capitalists
  • Access to Top Corporations and 150+ Countries
  • Curated mentorship programmes
  • Scholarships of the UN Tourism Academy for all finalists
  • Potential pilot project with private sector collaborators and institutions
  • Access to the TUI Female Futureshaper Bootcamp (for eligibility verify the section on "target startups")
  • Plug and Play: registered profile on Playbook, invitation to participate in their Silicon Valley Summit, access to talent and synergies with their portfolio
  • Become a member of the UN Tourism Innovation Network
  • Participation in a Visitors program of the Carolina Foundation

Get ready for your application:

  1. Keep in mind the category or Sustainable Development Goal you will apply for
  2. Read the Terms & Conditions of the Competition
  3. Make an attractive pitch deck in English (no more than 15 slides)
  4. List your web page, social media users and contact information
  5. Once you have all of them ready, fill out the Application form in English

Feel free to contact us for any inquiries at [email protected] with the subject: "Inquiry Artificial Intelligence Global Startup Competition"

 

Timeline*

LaunchLaunch:
June 2024
Deadline submissionsDeadline submissions: September 2024
Announcement winnersAnnouncement winners:
October 2024
Final PitchFinal Pitch October 2024 – November 2024*
Impact: continuousImpact: continuous

*TBC

 

After the competition

Robert Grajewski

enexor/
Robert Grajewski
Senior Vice President
Enexor BioEnergy
USA

Winner of the category SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy

"We closed a Series A funding round of USD 10 million led by BorgWarner and Halliburton Co".

Winner of the category SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities

"We have gotten worldwide interest for our product and we were selected to the Microsoft AI for Good Program".

Travaxy
Lioz Amar
Founder and CEO
Travaxy
Israel

Lioz Amar
Alexander Haufschild

Socialbnb
Alexander Haufschild
Co-Founder
Socialbnb
Germany

Winner of the category Local Community Involvement

The participation in the Awake Tourism Challenge brought our idea of socialbnb to a global stage. I especially value the opportunity to connect to other entrepreneurs with their innovative ideas for a better tourism industry. The incubator program was also a great opportunity to connect and to bring our startup to the next level of expansion.

UNWTO 2023: A Year in Review

UNWTO 2023: A Year in Review

UNWTO in 2023:
Advancing Priorities and Moving Closer to Members

With its priorities for tourism clearly defined and supported by its Member States, 2023 was a year of consolidation and growth for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). As the tourism sector continued to rebound from the pandemic at a remarkable rate, UNWTO set the direction of travel, advancing its Programme of Work and moving even closer to its Members on the ground.

Resilience and Reliability

The first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the new year forecasts a return to 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Attended by UNWTO’s leadership, the official opening of China’s tourism market in February was a key element to continue rebuilding global confidence in the sector.

Results at the end of 2023 proved the predictions to be right, emphasising both tourism’s resilience and the reliability of UNWTO data as the go-to source for tourism insights for Governments, businesses and the media.

Spotlight on Investments

With investments identified as a key priority for the sector, UNWTO started 2023 strong. A new cooperation agreement with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) further promotes tourism investments in the Americas region. Investment Guidelines were released throughout the year, emphasising opportunities in specific destinations, with a focus on Africa and the Americas. This year also saw UNWTO join the World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA) to boost effectiveness of investment in the sector and its work towards Agenda 2030. 

After being there for the country's reopening, UNWTO returned to China in September for the 10th Global Tourism Economic Forum in Macau. The gathering served as a platform to advance UNWTO's work around investments, with the role of China as the world's biggest outbound market made clear. Then in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in September, UNWTO celebrated the biggest World Tourism Day so far, this time around 'Tourism and Green Investments' while also highlighting importance of devoting significant financial resources to education. Out of this day comes the "Tourism Opens Minds" initiative to promote new and diverse destinations, and the second World Tourism Day Report, this year on investments for people, planet and prosperity.

Education and Youth Empowerment

Throughout 2023, UNWTO showed its commitment to investing in people and supporting young talent. New Academies in Collaboration with UNWTO opened in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, with more to follow. Reflecting UNWTO's work to advance tourism education at every stage, the Education Toolkit to support the introduction of tourism as a high school subject was launched, the final of the Students' League was held, and the first BSc in Sustainable Tourism Management was announced with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

Finally, returning to the World Travel Market in London, UNWTO makes education the theme of its annual Ministers' Summit at one of the world's leading tourism trade fairs, concluding a year-long focus on key priority. 

UNWTO Healing Solutions for Tourism Challenge

Education and Youth Empowerment

This year has presented unprecedented challenges to the sector but has also promoted innovation. Entrepreneurs have provided ground-breaking ideas and solutions to reboot the sector, specially aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19. This year’s top winning and shortlisted Startups came from all regions of the world, especially Europe and the Americas. Among the participants, 27,8% were women-leading startups, and 41% of this year’s winners were female entrepreneurs.

Among the solutions presented, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud were the preferred technologies mainly for delivering solutions related to Online Travel Agencies and Hotels & Hospitality Management. Even with the challenges of 2020, our Startups managed to source 37.122.932 USD in funding this year alone and 74.890.240 USD since the creation of the Department- ‘Angel’ and Venture Capitalists’ were identified as the main investors. Further information will be released soon in the Travel Tech Startups Ecosystem and Investment Landscape Report.

At the end of our second year of operation, UNWTO has directly supported more than 1,000 entrepreneurs around the world with numerous projects set to scale up in 2021 and beyond. These projects have the potential to restart tourism and benefit communities as well as contribute to the SDGs. Our gratitude goes to all the governments and public entities, academia, corporations, investors, Startups & MSMEs and supporting business partners who made these results possible during this unprecedented year. The 2021 UNWTO Innovation Agenda shall be full of more Challenges and Competitions to keep on encouraging the adoption of disruptive technologies and so offer more seamless and sustainable tourism, enhance capacity building and the chance to build back better, as well as the opportunity for the Startups to connect, partner, and scale-up.

List of 2020 Challenges and Competitions

Jun


JANUARY

2nd UNWTO Global Gastronomy Tourism Startup Competition set out to identify challenges and projects, and catalyzing innovations that can transform the Gastronomy Tourism sector in the near future. Partners: Basque Culinary Center (BCC). Participants: Over 300 applications from 150 countries. Winners: FoodieOn (the Republic of Korea) and Jiranis Food (Kenya)

Jun


FEBRUARY

UNWTO Rural Tourism Competition (Spain) set out to promote solutions to rural Spain's challenges, strengthen the role of tourism in addressing local problems with an emphasis on greater employment and entrepreneurship opportunities based on sustainability. Partners: Google, Ministerio de Industria Energía y Turismo de España y FADEMUR. Participants: Over 136 applications from 18/19 Spain’s Autonomous Communities. Winners: My Street Book and Vanwoow (Spain)

Jun


APRIL

UNWTO Healing Solutions for Tourism Challenge  A global call to reach the most disruptive startups, entrepreneurs and drive solutions to mitigate COVID-19’s impacts on tourism. Partners: WHO. Participants: Over 1,000 applications from 100 countries. Winners: HandInScan/ Chameleon (Canada/USA), OUTPOST Healthcare (Canada), SeeTrue AI (Israel), Checkpoint (Spain) MyStay (Czech Republic), WAAM MACHINES (Poland), iBonus Limited (Hong Kong), Beautiful Destinations, Inc. and Airside (USA)

#EUvsVirus Hackathon  – UNWTO played a central role within the framework of the pan-European Hackathon led by the European Commission, the European Innovation Council and in close collaboration with the EU member states to connect civil society, innovators, partners and investors across Europe in order to develop innovative solutions for coronavirus-related challenges.  UNWTO Independently organized, selected and coordinated a 100+ person team with 7,000 participants to lead and coordinate the Education Pilar of the hackathon. Overall, over 20,900 people from across the EU and beyond took part, with 2,150 solutions submitted, 279 of which were selected in the field of education.

Jun


MAY

Hospitality Challenge: Supporting the Hospitality Talents of Tomorrow set out to identify ideas and individuals capable of accelerating the recovery of the tourism sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Partners: Sommet Education. Participants: over 1,000 applications from over 95 countries. The top 30 applicants will receive full-board scholarships to world class education programmes Winners: 15 made it to the final and 4 were picked as winners of the categories of Healing for People and Healing for Destinations. (See true(Israel, smart occupancy (Spain), MyStay (Czech Republic), WAAM (Poland)

Beyond Tourism Innovation Challenge set out to identify new digital skills for the recovery phase post-COVID, and environmental sustainability. Partners: Over 214 applications from 28 countries. Participants: Over 214 applications from 28 countries. Winners: Better Batteries (Barbados), Belizing Tourism Innovation Lab (Belize), INTO (Costa Rica), Green Fins Hub (Dominican Republic), Safe Lodges Equal Safe Guests (Guyana), Caribbean Tourism Career Accelerator (Haiti), Digital Transformation of Indigenous (Panama) and Nariva Swamp (Trinidad and Tobago)

Jun


JUNE

UNWTO Inspiration Africa Branding Challenge set out to identify a campaign that positions Africa as a destination in the minds of travellers supporting the efforts of individual countries and companies, making tourism a driver of development in the continent. Partners: CNN Participants: Over 150 applications from 48 countries. Winner: UBUNTU: Africa invites you to live-Atrevia (Spain)

Desafio Brasileiro de Inovação em Turismo  set out to boost innovation in the Brazilian tourism sector, by improving the competitiveness of the sector throughout the country by digitally transforming public and private organizations. Partners: Ministério do Turismo Brasil and Wakalua. Participants: Over 700 applications participants. Winners: WorldPackers (Brazil)

Jun


JULY

UNWTO Sustainable Development Goals Global Startup Competition set out to support long-term recovery through the achievement of the SDGs. Partners: Google, Mastercard, Plug and Play, Amadeus, Telefónica and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Participants: Over 10.000 participants from 138 countries. The 60 finalists from 28 countries were already announced. Winners:  Not yet announced

Jun


AUGUST

UNWTO Smart Solutions for Smart Destinations Challenge set out to identify innovative, intelligent solutions that maximize the visitor’s experience of stadiums or events. Partners: Athletic Club of Bilbao and Deputy for Economic Promotion, Regional Government of Bizkaia. Participants: Over 99 applications from 37 countries. Winners: NECSUM Trisom (Spain) and Orwell Virtual Reality (Italy)

Jun


NOVEMBER

2ND edition of the Travel Tech for Good Accelerator initiative. In its second edition, this accelerator sourced top social impact startups from East Africa offering coaching for entrepreneurs, during which local and international mentors help them innovate their business models, research potential investors and clients, and bring their business pitches to the next level. Partners: Tui Care Foundation and Enpact  Selected participants: Tripxio (Uganda), SINA Village (Uganda), Mauritius Conscious (Mauritius), 54HOMES (Uganda)

Voices from 2020:

Reto de Innovación en Proyectos Verdes

APPLY

 

Reto de Innovación en Proyectos Verdes

Transforming the Tourism Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean

 

Powered by:

UN Tourism
CAF logo
 

UN Tourism and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) join forces in a momentous initiative to enhance the transformative impact of tourism, with a central focus on Green Projects. Our objective is to revitalize the industry by promoting innovation with a significant impact on sustainable infrastructure, reducing emissions and waste, but also in the social sphere, promoting rural and community tourism and generating new tourist experiences, all catalyzed by green projects in the sector.

In a dynamic world tourism scenario, we face a world where travelers' expectations are rapidly evolving, tourism is calling for innovation to create tourist experiences that are not only memorable but also transform the way the world is explored. In this changing context, entrepreneurs and tourism companies must seek to exceed travelers' expectations by applying new ideas and technologies.

Revealing the Challenge:

The relevance of this Challenge is highlighted by recognizing tourism as an essential driving force in the global economy and, more specifically, in the UN Tourism Region of the Americas, including Latin America and the Caribbean. During the period from January to July 2023, arrivals to the Americas reached 87% of 2019 levels, evidencing the resilience of the region1. Additionally, it is worth noting that for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) trends in the tourism sector in Latin America, according to the most recent report by UN Tourism in collaboration with fDi Intelligence of the Financial Times, between 2018 and 2022, 340 FDI projects in tourism were announced in the region, with a capital investment that amounts to USD 27.9 billion2 .

In this sense, innovation is relevant in the tourism sector to contribute to the transformation of the economy of rural communities and thus, in the same way, contribute to the reduction of emissions caused by the change in land use.

This Challenge seeks to support startups, enterprises, tourism companies, new entrepreneurs that promote through innovative projects, ensure the conservation and regeneration of the ecosystems and biodiversity of Latin America and the Caribbean to redefine how tourism can generate a positive impact, also having in mind that today tourists favor these offers when making their decisions about the destinations to visit.

The Challenge aims to strengthen the role of tourism in addressing local problems and to commit to greater ventures based on economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Green Projects:
This challenge is focused on startups, new entrepreneurs, and tourism companies that lead green project initiatives. Innovative projects are expected to contribute to sustainability and regeneration in all its pillars.

Specific working areas:

  • Innovation that generates environmentally responsible and low-carbon tourism: Innovative solutions that contribute to the significant reduction of environmental impact and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through waste management, energy efficiency, renewable energy generation; and initiatives that promote the design and development of tourist infrastructure in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, through technology and innovation, among others.

  • Innovation that generates tourism resilient to Climate Change: Projects that address social protection and the impact of climate change in the tourism sector, seeking equitable and resilient solutions.

  • Innovation conservation of protected areas through tourism: Projects that in some way contribute to the conservation of National Natural Parks, Biosphere Reserves, World Geoparks, Ramsar Sites, and areas designated for the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

  • Innovation for the regeneration of ecosystems and their biodiversity in tourist destinations: Projects that in some way contribute to the restoration of ecosystems through the tourist experience.

MAYO 27 LANZAMIENTO
 
Launch
January 24, 2024
 
Promotion
Fitur 2024 until April 30, 2024
AGOSTO PRESENTACIÓN PITCHES UNWTO
 
Deadline submissions:
April 30, 2024
MAYO 27 – JULIO 31 CANDIDATURAS
 
Selection
April 30 until May 30, 2024
CONTINUO IMPACTO
 
Announcement finalists
May 31, 2024
CONTINUO IMPACTO
 
Final Pitch
Selected finalists will have the unique opportunity to present their revolutionary ideas at the UN Tourism and Tech Adventures (venue and date to be confirmed).
CONTINUO IMPACTO
 
Impact:
continuous

The objective of the contest is to especially attract the attention of startups, entrepreneurs, tourism agencies, and operators with a presence in Latin America and the Caribbean that are focused on social and environmental impact.

Entrepreneurs, startups, tourism companies, and organizations that meet the following requirements can apply:

  • They have an innovative/disruptive nature and offer sustainable and value-added solutions for the tourism sector;
  • Leveraging new technologies and innovative solutions, especially in the context of the blue and green economies;
  • Have the ability to offer positive impact indicators in the context of the blue and green economies;
  • Have potential for growth, scalability, and application in the region;
  • Have a minimum viable product or project that is ready to be developed and funded;
  • Have a structured business plan;
  • Have a market study that justifies the business plan.

  • Opportunity to present your solution at the UN Tourism Tech Adventures: Green Projects
  • USD 10,000 investment offered by CAF for the winner
  • Mentoring and support from UN Tourism and top-level partners
  • Personalized support for the company
  • Scholarship opportunities for the UN Tourism Online Academy
  • Be a member of the UN Tourism Innovation Network through which they will have continuous support and opportunities to participate in UN Tourism projects and events
 

About Innovation at UN Tourism:

UN Tourism believes that innovation is the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To drive the digitalization of tourism, create an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem that will maximize the potential of the sector in terms of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, and anticipate, address and overcome the new challenges and trends of the tourism sector, in 2018 UN Tourism developed a framework for Innovation, Education, Digital Transformation and Investments.

The IEI Department already launched 23 global, regional, and specific challenges, and 21 Tourism Tech Adventures (Innovation Forums) in 14 countries were held, with an additional 8 online editions. Total funding of 214 + USD million has been gathered for the UN Tourism Top Startups

 

Acerca de la CAF:

La CAF es el banco de desarrollo comprometido con mejorar la calidad de vida de todos los latinoamericanos y caribeños. Sus acciones promueven el desarrollo sostenible y la integración regional. Apuntan a convertirse en el Banco verde y azul, y el de la reactivación económica y social de la región.

Ofrecen asesoramiento y apoyo financiero a los sectores público y privado de sus países accionistas. Además, generan conocimiento para fortalecer las políticas públicas en América Latina y el Caribe y mejorar la calidad y el impacto de los proyectos que impulsan.

Related links:

Previous UN Tourism startup competitions
CAF
Términos y Condiciones 

 
Tourism Opens Minds

This Is The Begining Of The Tourism Opens Minds Initiative
Where It Goes Depends On You

 

Keep me updated!

Sign me up!

 

The Pledge

Tourism moves people, ideas, and economies. It brings us directly into other people’s lives. Tourism is fatal to preconceptions, As it has the power to bridge cultures

Because when we move, so do our minds.
And the more we move, the more our minds and hearts open.

So why then do we so often close ourselves off from the world?
And allow the fear of the unknown, the feeling of not being welcome,
the worry that the way is not yet paved,
make us visit the same places, meet the same people, and have the same stories and experiences.

At The World Tourism Organization we have a duty,
To foster people’s desire to discover the entire world,
making the unknown more inviting,
and enabling new connections between strangers,
to give back to tourism the power to build bridges.

That’s why, on this World Tourism Day, we launch the Open Minds Campaign.
Starting with a symbol.
A symbol embracing all places and people,
inspired by the colors of the flags of every country in the world.
Yet, a symbol is only as powerful as the actions behind it.
For this, we take a pledge.

A pledge to develop tourism in less visited regions, to open up new opportunities,
And to create moments to establish a dialogue between strangers.
To make travel a truly heart and mind-opening experience.
For all of us, everywhere.

 

GOVERNMENT PLEDGES

Pledge to work with the World Tourism Organization to make lesser-known destinations more welcoming and accessible.

INDUSTRY PLEDGES

Pledge to work with the World Tourism Organization to help cater to and foster an environment that compliments lesser-known destination trips.

CONSUMER PLEDGES

Pledge to be open-minded to new cultures and destinations while holding an open heart while travelling.

 

The Emblem: Ways To Show Your Commitment

We have crafted a comprehensive set of guidelines that serve as a powerful symbol of your brand's unwavering commitment to this noble cause. By adhering to these guidelines in all your communications, you demonstrate that you have taken the pledge and are actively working towards its realization.

Tourism Opens Minds | UNWTO initiative
UNWTO Startup Competition for Mega Events and MICE Tourism
 

UNWTO Startup Competition for Mega Events and MICE Tourism

MEGA Events

Digitalization and Disruptiveness for Sustainable Event Management

WINNER: Circular Unity (Portugal) www.circularunity.com

Inclusiveness and Accessibility

WINNER: touch2see (France) www.touch2see.fr

MICE Events

Promotion and Marketing

WINNER: Sentimantle (Israel) www.sentimantle.com
WINNER: Atlaseek (United Arab Emirates) www.atlaseek.com

Technology for attendee engagement and infrastructure

WINNER: Hello xLAB KK (Japan) www.hello-xlab.com
 

Tourism is one of the leading sectors in international trade, accounting in 2019 for 28% of the world's services exports, representing 1,7 trillion dollars from international tourism, turning it into the fifth largest traded services sector (UNWTO). While many factors influence tourism growth, MICE tourism and mega events can contribute massively to the influx of tourists to a country and destination. With this call, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is sourcing the most sustainable, innovative, and disruptive entrepreneurs that offer SMART solutions for mega events and mice tourism that benefit visitors, organizers, and local communities in a sustainable way.

Mega events are large-scale events often of a longer duration that attract a significant number of attendees from different parts of the world, related to sporting, cultural, or business, and they usually have a global impact. They can benefit a host destination in terms of attracting visitors, drawing global attention to destinations, and as a consequence increasing international tourist arrivals. In principle, mega events contribute short-term benefits, yet when executed systematically and in a sustainable way, they can be a catalyst for longer-term tourism development in various aspects from economic to social. Although international tourist arrivals and receipts increase significantly for the host country of a mega event, we must take into account possible tourist displacement and the effect of this kind of tourism on the destination. They can present a range of challenges for the country, the host destination, and the stakeholders involved.

Tourism generated by Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions, or MICE Tourism, is a specialized segment of the tourism industry that involves organizing and hosting short-term events and gatherings for business purposes. It is an important sector for many countries and cities, as it can attract significant numbers of high-spending visitors who contribute to the local economy. The tourism industry relies on effective marketing and promotion to attract attendees and exhibitors, as well as on skilled event organizers who can manage the logistics and coordination of large-scale events.

Both tourism activities generate a substantial amount of tourist arrivals but present different challenges.

Present your business and offer an innovative solution to the challenges of mega events and mice tourism!

  1. Digitalization and Disruptiveness for Sustainable Event Management: Mega events can have significant environmental impacts, such as increased energy and water consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Disruptive ideas that contribute to sustainable event management practices can help to minimize these impacts by reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting renewable energy. Digital technologies can be used to enhance the attendee experience and improve mega events, as well as serves as a tool for sustainability for both the infrastructure and the services.
    Key challenges waste reduction, conserving resources, renewable energy, enhancing attendee experience, and emerging technologies.
     
  2. Inclusiveness and Accessibility: Mega events can often be exclusive and not accessible to everyone. Inclusive event design aims to create events that are accessible and welcoming to all attendees, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. In addition, they have an impact on the surrounding communities, both positive and negative. Engaging with local communities can help to build trust and support for the event, as well as to identify and address any concerns or issues that arise. This can involve partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and local government.
    Key challenges: fan engagement, promotion of values, accessible infrastructure, involvement and partnership with local communities

 

  1. Promotion and Marketing: There is significant competition among destinations to attract MICE events. Host destinations must differentiate themselves from other destinations and provide a compelling value proposition to event organizers. These events require effective marketing and promotion to attract attendees and exhibitors. Event organizers and host destinations must develop targeted marketing campaigns that reach the right audience and communicate the event's unique value.
    Key challenges: differentiation and competition of host destinations, targeted marketing, communication, exhibitions, and brand awareness.
     
  2. Technology for attendee engagement and infrastructure: MICE events must engage attendees and provide a compelling experience that meets their needs and expectations. This includes developing relevant content, providing networking opportunities, and incorporating technology to enhance the attendee experience. In addition, challenges related to venue availability, transportation, accommodation, communication infrastructure, security, and sustainable infrastructure, arise for these types of high-level events.
    Key challenges: security, network opportunities, logistics, registration, communication with attendees, translation, and audiovisual innovation.

 

MAYO 27 LANZAMIENTO
31 May 2023
Launch of the challenge
MAYO 27 – JULIO 31 CANDIDATURAS 1 September 2023
Deadline for candidatures

September 2023
Announcement of the finalist startups (online)
AGOSTO PRESENTACIÓN PITCHES UNWTO
September-October 2023
Pitch of the finalists

The purpose of the competition is to capture the attention of many startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses from around the global tourism value chain to facilitate the selection of those most relevant to the challenge we are addressing.

The business must offer an innovative and disruptive solution for one of the challenges of Mega Events and MICE Tourism.

In addition, the competition will require the following requirements to participate: The projects must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations and preferably also allow for an introduction or adaptation of digital and technological elements, and focused on one (or several) of the following areas:

  • Be innovative/disruptive in nature providing value-added solutions;
  • Harnessing the impact of new technologies;
  • Alternative and complementary business models to harness the economic impact of tourism in destination(s);
  • Smart and innovative solutions for sustainable experiences;
  • Entrepreneur/promoter team: Suitability of the promoter team, motivation, and interest;
  • Startup in Seed Stage or Early Stage (have a minimum viable product or an idea that is ready to be developed);
  • Emphasize the promotion of gender equity (and female empowerment), digitalization, environmental preservation, local communities, and youth leadership;

More information and the Terms of Reference.

  • Opportunity to join UNWTO Innovation Network
  • Opportunity to participate and pitch solution at a Global UNWTO event
  • Potential opportunity to provide a demo of the solution at an upcoming global UNWTO event
  • Visibility on UNWTO global platforms and social media networks
  • Scholarships for UNWTO Tourism Online Academy
  • Access to potential Mentorship programs with international leaders in the field of innovation
  • Networking opportunities with UNWTO and key partners
  • Access to potential seed funding, investments, and partnership opportunities with consultancies, accelerators, and incubators within the UNWTO Network
 

With the Participation of:

Uzbekistan

Ecosystem Collaborators

UEFA
Mastercard

 

ICCA
Joint Meetings Industry Council
 

About Innovation at UNWTO:

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) believes that innovation is the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To drive the digitalization of tourism, create an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem that will maximize the potential of the sector in terms of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, and anticipate, address and overcome the new challenges and trends of the tourism sector, in 2018 UNWTO developed a framework for Innovation, Education, Digital Transformation and Investments.

The IEI Department already launched 23 global, regional, and specific challenges, and 21 Tourism Tech Adventures (Innovation Forums) in 14 countries were held, with an additional 8 online editions. Total funding of 214 + USD million has been gathered for the UNWTO Top Startups

UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East
 

UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East

Be a Woman, Be a Leader.

SDGs

Category 1: Social Impact

WINNER: Plastus Biotech | Saudi Arabiatheplastus.com

Finalists:

Category 2: Tourism and Travel Experience

WINNER: Sparkle Haze | United Arab Emirates: www.sparklehaze.com

Finalists:

Category 3: Future Tech

WINNER: Xenios Academy | United Arab Emirates: www.xenios.academy 

Finalists:

Category 4: Events and Community

WINNER: Fosha | Egypt: https://fosha.app

Finalists:

 

Tourism Empowers Women

According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), women make up most of the tourist workforce in major parts of the world. UNWTO is always committed to gender equality, as mandated in Sustainable Development Goal 5, referring to women empowerment by supporting women’s rights and improving their participation in the business realm. UNWTO’s global report on tourism found that more than 54% of people employed in the tourism are women, while in the Arab world, women represent 8% of the regional tourist workforce. UNWTO is continuously seizing opportunities to highlight the role of women in the tourism sector, and particularly Arab women.

Women and Technology

Technology has become a driven tool for all travelers and tourism businesses. In the Arab region, 34% of tech focused startups were founded by women, and 57% of science technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates are women. UNWTO is committed to support Arab entrepreneurs, boosting their tourism business careers. Hence, the industry is always searching for businesswomen with technological solutions and specialized skills to oversee smart digital projects. For this reason, UNWTO launched a startup competition to find the most innovative tech-driven startups in the realm of tourism, managed by women.

UNWTO and Innovation

Since 2018, the Innovation, Education and Investments Department at UNWTO has launched 23 global, regional, and specific startup competitions and challenges in more than 150 countries. In parallel, it has organized 21 Tourism Tech Adventures (Innovation Forums) in 14 countries, with an additional 8 online editions. A total funding of +214 USD million has been raised for Top Startups.

 

The UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, calls for women entrepreneurs from all over the world and based in the Arab region willing to grow their tech startup in the tourism industry, and provide sustainable solutions to the sector.

Which startups can apply?

  • Startups must be led, owned or managed by women in the Middle East, residing in any of the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
  • Be an Idea Stage, Early Stage or Series A startups with a minimum viable product or idea that is ready to be developed and funded.
  • Have a full-time team, a tested pilot and business plan.
  • Be scalable with potential for international growth.

Startups will apply to one of the 4 categories below, defined by UNWTO. Since some initiatives may be fitting into more than one category, please choose the one where the predicted positive impact will be greatest.
CATEGORY 1- Social Impact: We live in an increasingly connected and interdependent world, transformed by digital advances lead by women. Technology can help us advance social, cultural, and environmental objectives, creating meaningful impact for people across borders. If well managed, technology can enable the tourism sector to act as an agent of positive change for healthier lifestyles, enriched and revitalized cultural destinations, and more sustainable consumption and production patterns.
This category is open for women-led startups that focus on technology in wellness, health, urban development, rural development, sustainability, and education with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.

CATEGORY 2 - Tourism and Travel Experience: The tourism sector faced unprecedented disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic that it is still recovering from. New technologies, digital tools and capacities are needed to accelerate recovery and define the future of the sector. Tech and digitalization can no longer be a niche, they must be a fundamental part of the new norm for the industry. This is particularly the case in the Middle East, a region that is witnessing a push to increase tourism offerings and their quality, to emerge as a key destination on the global stage.
This thematic area invites to participate women-led startups focusing on the food and beverage, transportation and accommodation, travel, and retail industries. 

CATEGORY 3 - Future Tech: Digitalization is no longer a trend in the Middle East, it is here to stay for all sectors, including tourism. Many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, amongst others, are moving towards implementing a smart destinations approach to tourism.
This category targets women-led startups that work in the areas of fintech, AI, AR/VR, crypto currency, internet of things, blockchain technology, digital twining and the metaverse. 

CATEGORY 4 - Events and Community: Today, technology and social media platforms enable communities around the world, even if they exist online, in-person or in a hybrid format. Whether these communities focus on sports, arts and culture, gaming, literature, professional or personal interests and events, they are being managed and run through technology.
This thematic area is for women-led startups that have a special focus on social and messaging platforms, e-sports and gaming platforms, community-based applications, events-related platforms, and education technology to participate.

The winners of Women in Tech Startup Competition Middle East will gain from the following benefits:

  • Invitation to join UNWTO Innovation Network, with access to more than 447 investors, 47 incubators, 1274 corporations and representatives from governments, academia and media from all over the world. 
  • Opportunity to participate and pitch in the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure high-level event, that will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 27 September for the celebration of International Tourism Day.
  • Visibility on all UNWTO platforms and social media networks, with a global reach.
  • Mentorship programs with international leaders in the field of innovation.
  • Access to potential seed funding, investments, and partnership opportunities with consultancies, accelerators and incubators.
  • Scholarships for UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, which has more than 20.000 alumni, and offers courses in different languages, including Arabic, produced in partnership with international top Universities all over the world.
  • Prospective opportunities to talk as guest keynote speakers and panelists at international forums.

MAYO 27 LANZAMIENTO
March 2023
Launch Date
MAYO 27 – JULIO 31 CANDIDATURAS
30 June
Application Deadline

July 2023
Shortlisted decision
AGOSTO PRESENTACIÓN PITCHES UNWTO
27 September
World Tourism Day Tourism Tech Adventures Pitch of the finalists Round tables and thematic sessions
CONTINUO IMPACTO
2023-2024
Impact Personalized support for finalist startups
 

Travel Partner

Almosafa
 

About Innovation at UNWTO:

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) believes that innovation is the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To drive the digitalization of tourism, create an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem that will maximize the potential of the sector in terms of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, and anticipate, address and overcome the new challenges and trends of the tourism sector, in 2018 UNWTO developed a framework for Innovation, Education, Digital Transformation and Investments.

The IEI Department already launched 23 global, regional, and specific challenges, and 21 Tourism Tech Adventures (Innovation Forums) in 14 countries were held, with an additional 8 online editions. Total funding of 214 + USD million has been gathered for the UNWTO Top Startups