Innovation & Digital Transformation

With AI and advanced technologies reshaping the travel industry, 2024 presents a key moment to redefine tourism. As international travel reaches full recovery, the challenge focuses on using AI to improve personalized services, streamline operations, and elevate customer engagement, delivering scalable solutions that bring measurable results.

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.

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.

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.

Following the success of previous editions, UN Tourism in collaboration with Basque Culinary Center launch the 4TH Global Competition for Gastronomy Tourism Startups. Our Mission is to identify challenges and projects, and catalyzing innovations that can transform the Gastronomy Tourism sector in the near future.

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria, are once again joining forces to promote innovation, and to harness the immense potential of the tourism industry, reimagining the future of Hotels and New Business Models, by launching the UN Tourism Startup Competition for Tourism Technologies and Solutions in Hotels and New Business Models.

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.

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. 

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.

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) is seeking sustainable and innovative entrepreneurs who can provide SMART solutions for mega events and MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). Mega events, which are large-scale events with global impact, can attract visitors, draw attention to destinations, and contribute to short-term economic and social benefits. 

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), and the Institución Ferial de Canarias (INFECAR), have joined forces in this global startup competition to source the most innovative and disruptive business models and smart solutions adapted to answer the complex challenges and specific needs of the tourism sector of island destination are facing with in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Seeking to find the most innovative startups that are working to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Startups from all walks of life, from all over the world and all economic sectors are invited to participate.

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 UN Tourism in collaboration with the Basque Culinary Center is launching the 3rd Global Competition for Gastronomy Tourism Startups.  We are looking for startups which utilize new technologies, promote sustainability, and positively impact local communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way in which travelers want to experience the world. Tourists are looking for sustainable, safe, convenient, and flexible travel options. Domestic, rural and eco tourism have emerged as the most popular travel choices. As rural tourism expands, it is crucial that tourism benefits both tourists and the local communities.

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.

La OMT y Procolombia, la entidad encargada de promover el turismo, la inversión extranjera en Colombia, las exportaciones no minero energéticas y la imagen del país, invitan a participar en la convocatoria para identificar aquellos productos turísticos que apuestan por un sector cada vez más sostenible, inclusivo e innovador.

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!

The largest innovation competition to accelerate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Startups from all walks of life, from all over the world and all economic sectors are invited to participate.

Gastronomy tourism continues to be a top election for both national and international travelers. It is no more a trend but a robust tourism product. For this reason, UN Tourism and BCC launched once again the 2nd UN Tourism Gastronomy Tourism Startup Competition.

In the wake of the year of Tourism and Rural Development, the UN Tourism encourage Spanish entrepreneurs to come up with solutions for rural development challenges through tourism. The most impactful and innovative solutions will be awarded, as it is a top priority to make our world more sustainable.

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. 

UNWTO 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. 

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.