There are only a few days left to announce the official closing of the National Innovation Competition for Tourism Startups, under the theme “Invest in Moroccan tourism” scheduled for March 15, 2023. A preview initiative launched by the Moroccan Society of Tourism Engineering -SMIT in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Department of Tourism.
This is an opportunity open to the most innovative tourism start-ups that will create future unique tourist experiences and thus participate in the transmutation of tourism into an innovative and inclusive sector. This competition aims to make the most of innovation and digitalization and makes it possible to identify and support those who contribute to the revival and future of the tourism sector through the development of innovative tourism products.
Indeed, the UNWTO and the SMIT rely on innovative and successful Moroccan startups that will increase the tourist attractiveness of the Kingdom’s destinations.
The categories proposed within the framework of the National Innovation Competition for Tourism Startups are summarized as follows:
Category 1: Innovation in the tourism product as part of blue economies, which aim to select tourism startups that offer solutions that promote the sustainable use of tourism resources. The objective is to contribute to the development of innovative tourism products capable of stimulating the creation of new jobs in a sustainable manner.
Category 2: Innovation in the field of natural heritage, which aim to target tourism startups that offer new experiences mainly related to the discovery of the natural tourist wealth of the Kingdom.
Category 3: Innovation in the tourism product linked to cultural heritage. This category targets the selection of tourism startups that propose projects to discover the potential of Morocco’s untapped tourist resources through their promotion through innovative, immersive cultural products but also with high attractive values.
Category 4: Sustainable Urban Futures – Innovation in Urban Tourism. This category targets tourism start-ups that offer products with characteristics of attractiveness, innovation and sustainability, in order to enrich the entertainment offer and allow the strengthening of creative activities linked to local culture in the level of the main urban tourism destinations in the Kingdom.
The winning startups will be rewarded through quality mentorships and tailor-made training offered by UNWTO experts and strategic partners.