UN Tourism Open Innovation Challenge France: Collaborations between French Travel Tech Startups and Large Tourism Companies

Organized by UN Tourism and the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry, the Open Innovation Challenge France aims to reward the best collaborations between travel tech startups and large companies. The Challenge brings together travel tech startups, large corporations, public institutions, investors, and the academic community. Its goal is to highlight how innovative partnerships can transform the tourism sector and promote a more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive tourism industry in France. Selected participants will receive tailored training and mentorship, as well as networking opportunities through the UN Tourism network. They will also have the chance to present and showcase their projects to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and key stakeholders at the "UN Tourism Tech Adventure - France" (TTA) event, which will take place in France at the end of 2025.

Green Projects Innovation Challenge 

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.

Moroccan National Tourism Startup Competition: Invest in the Development of Moroccan Tourism (closed)

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), and the Moroccan Agency of Tourism Development Société Marocaine d’Ingénierie Touristique (SMIT), have joined forces in this national startup competition to source the most innovative and disruptive business models adapted to the tourism needs of future generations.
 
This competition will source entrepreneurs that can offer new experiences and solutions for tourists in a more sustainable way. The call will identify and support those that contribute to the recovery and future of the tourism sector through the development of innovative tourism products in Morocco.
 
The winning startups will have the opportunity to pitch at the UN Tourism Tourism Tech Adventures Morocco, receive mentorship and training by UN Tourism and Partners, become a member of the UN Tourism Innovation Network, and more.
 
Apply to the competition before 31 March 2023.

Competition for Innovative Experiences in Community Tourism in Panama (closed)

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) launched the Competition for Innovative Community Tourism Experiences with the objective of developing new marketable and sustainable tourism experiences that highlight the natural and cultural heritage of Panama, as well as the authenticity of our local communities, improving the quality of life of its residents.

This competition between the UN Tourism and the Government of Panama is aimed at tour operators in partnership with local communities, to seek and support the recovery through the development of new experiences framed in the heritage routes established in the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism in Panama.

The competition is open until 5 April 2023.

Regional Challenge in Central America and the Caribbean for Innovation and Digitization of Education through the Tourism Sector: Education for the Future (closed)

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), together with Save the Children Dominican Republic launched the regional startup competition focused on Education for the Future. The competition seeks to find disruptive solutions that can offer new educational opportunities through the tourism sector. Through the competition, we want to give the opportunity to young people, being the prosperity of the economy, to develop in their career.

The competition focuses on two different categories, being, New Technologies and Social Impact. The first category searches for startups with a high technological component to provide solutions or new services related to the tourism and education sector. The second category searches for startups with a high component of transformation and social improvement in its scope of implementation in the tourism and education sector.

The winning startups will have the opportunity to pitch their project in our next UN Tourism Tourism Tech Adventure, have investment opportunities, become part of the UN Tourism Innovation Network, and receive mentorships among others.

Finalists will be anounced between December and January.

UN Tourism Innovation Challenge (closed)

The UN Tourism and Procolombia have partnered up to launch the UN Tourism Innovation Challenge to promote sustainable, inclusive and innovative tourism in Colombia. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs are needed to forge a new path forward. Novel ideas and products that address pressing issues such as gender equality, digitization, environmental preservation and youth leadership will be crucial to reactivate the Colombian post-COVID-19 economy.

The winners of this challenge will receive a scholarship for one of the certified UN Tourism Tourism Online Academy courses as well as global recognition for their product.

Apply by October 30, 2021 to take part in this unique opportunity!

NEOM: Tourism Experiences of the Future (closed)

Calling all Saudi entrepreneurs! Make your mark on the world’s most cutting edge tourist destination: NEOM. NEOM, the first independent international zone located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, redefines our way of life – offering an intelligent, innovative, and sustainable new model.

The UN Tourism and NEOM challenge Saudi entrepreneurs to pitch a startup which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, introduces novel technologies, and disrupts traditional business models. The startup must create an experience for NEOM tourists and citizens alike.

Winners of this challenge will receive mentoring, networking, and scholarship opportunities with the UN Tourism and key partners.  The top entrepreneurs will have the incredible opportunity to showcase their start-up at the Tourism Experiences of the Future event in NEOM. Semifinalists will be awarded $2,000, and the winner of this challenge will receive a total prize of $10,000.

The deadline for applications is October 24, 2021. Apply today!

Hospitality Challenge (closed)

With modern society immersed in an unprecedent situation, The Hospitality Challenge is a global call aiming to receive projects that can help hospitality sector reboot. Now, as the industry restarts, this competition is designed to identify ideas and individuals capable of accelerating recovery while promoting inclusivity and sustainability in the sector to invent the hospitality of tomorrow.

The 30 finalists will be eligible for full scholarships in 15 different programmes in Hospitality, Culinary and Pastry Arts Management, (Bachelors, Masters, MBAs) offered in the world-class academic institutions of Sommet Education: Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and London, Les Roches Crans-Montana in Switzerland, Les Roches Marbella in Spain and École Ducasse in France.

Among the 30 winners, the top three most innovative entrepreneurial projects will be granted funding to support their initial development by Eurazeo, leading global investment group from which Sommet Education is a portfolio Company.

We encourage you to participate in the Hospitality Challenge. We need your solutions!

Smart Solutions for Smart Destinations Challenge (closed)

The World Tourism Organization together with Athletic Club of Bilbao and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia have launched the Smart Solutions for Smart Destinations Challenge to drive innovation and promote entrepreneurship in tourism.

This new challenge is designed for startups with innovative and intelligent ideas to maximize the visitor experience in stadiums or at events. All solutions must facilitate the entire tourist experience, including before and after an event not just during it. 

In particular, the competition is looking for ideas whose benefits will be felt throughout the wider Bizkaia region, complementing the work of Athletic Club. 

The winning startups will be given the chance to work alongside Athletic Club for six months to develop a pilot project. 

HEALING SOLUTIONS FOR TOURISM CHALLENGE (closed)

A global call to reach the most disruptive startups, entrepreneurs, innovators and existing technologies to mitigate Covid-19 impacts on tourism through health, economic and destination recovery solutions.

UN Tourism received over 1,000 applications from over 100 countries for the Healing Solutions for Tourism Challenge, launched to identify the most disruptive startups, entrepreneurs and drive solutions to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on tourism.

UN Tourism INSPIRATION AFRICA BRANDING CHALLENGE (closed)

The UN Tourism Inspiring Africa - Branding Challenge gathered key actors from the marketing and branding sector to present their proposals for a campaign that positions Africa as a destination in the minds of travellers.  Beyond COVID-19, the campaign aims to create a positive image of Africa as a tourism destination that support the efforts of individual countries and companies, tells the many positive stories about Africa and makes tourism a driver of development.