Tourism Challenge

Are you a startup in the tourism sector with a solution to the UN SDGs? Apply for the Awake Tourism Challenge before 30 June 2022

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, invites applicants for the Awake Tourism Challenge. Through the Challenge, UNWTO seeks to support the most innovative startups working to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Challenge seeks solutions to six challenges: local and community involvement, green and blue economies, ecological and sustainable capita creation, tourism tech for good, tourism education, and women empowerment.

Successful applicants will benefit from the following:

  • Pitch at a UNWTO Demo Day
  • Curated mentorship programme including one-on-one and in-group sessions focused on Intellectual Property (IP), sustainability, business, and leadership
  • Connection to the UNWTO Innovation Network for meeting public and private stakeholders to explore funding and piloting opportunities
  • Potential matchmaking with partners to scale up the startups, including investors, corporations, and governments

The Challenge targets startups that meet the following criteria:

  • Innovative in nature, providing value-added solutions
  • Sustainability-driven
  • Scalable potential for international growth or to be applied by corporations and in other countries or regions
  • Early-stage or series A startup
  • Introduction or adoption of digital and technological elements
  • Have a tested pilot and business plan
  • Have been accelerated before
  • Have a full-time team including at least 2 members under 35 years; gender balance will also be considered.

Applicants will be subject to further evaluation to assess their contribution to SDGs, potential business impact, maturity of the product or technology, team and organisation maturity, and partnership readiness.

To apply for this Challenge, visit: Applications

For more information on the Challenge, visit: UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge