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The competition targets startups led by women in the Middle East within the tourism sector and related industries. These enterprises must offer sustainable solutions benefiting people, the planet, and prosperity. They should be in the early stages of entrepreneurship, from idea conception to Series A funding. The competition is divided into three categories:
- People and Skills: Seeking startups integrating environmental and sustainable approaches in education technology, social connectivity, wellness or health, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.
- Green Travel Solutions: Open to startups utilizing environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches in green technology, infrastructure, travel logistics, urban or rural development, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.
- Market Innovators: For startups employing emerging technologies in the tourism sector.
Key global and regional partners and ecosystem collaborators, including Almosafer, Plug and Play, AIM, The Bench, Impulse4Women, and Bilakatu, will provide support to the winning startups, offering visibility, personalized mentorship, consultancy, and access to potential investments.
The application process will be facilitated through Plug and Play’s open innovation platform, the world’s largest. Finalists will also be invited to join the global UN Tourism Innovation Network. The competition was announced during the AIM Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at a special UN Tourism Investment Forum session on “Investing in Innovation and Enabling Women Entrepreneurs.”
This edition follows the success of the inaugural initiative, attracting over 140 startups and SMEs from 11 countries. Last year’s winners, Fosha (Egypt), Sparkle Haze (UAE), Plastus Biotech (Saudi Arabia), and Xenios Academy (UAE), were announced during the World Tourism Day celebrations on September 27 in Riyadh.
UN Tourism’s commitment to advancing the positive impact of tourism on women’s lives aligns with its goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality. The organization actively supports women entrepreneurs to drive inclusivity and propel the tourism sector forward.
UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona says: “It is crucial to empower female entrepreneurs in the Middle East with innovative business proposals that have a component of positive social impact and respect for the environment to support the sustainable development of the growing tourism sector in the region.”
Since 2018, UN Tourism has launched over 25 startup competitions and innovation challenges across 150 countries worldwide. With over 20,000 participants and more than 350 top startups mapped, totaling over USD 2 billion in funding, UN Tourism continues its mission to promote digitalization and innovation to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through tourism as a tool for positive transformation and inclusive economic development.
The post UN Tourism Aims To Boost Sustainable Tourism With Women-led Tech Startups In The Middle East appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
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