(Posted 17th August 2022)
SAVE THE DATE – Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards |
| POWERFUL I IMPACTFUL I VIBRANT 4th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge Africa Tourism Partners, the Namibia Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, BDO, and UNWTO once again hosted an impactful and inspiring 4th and 2022 edition of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit in the capital Windhoek, Namibia. The participants are the core drivers of the success of the event every single year and this year was no different. The lead conveners, host, and partners, therefore, take this opportunity to thank all African Youth, government dignitaries, supporting partners, media partners, corporate and public leaders, proficient speakers, international and local organizations, 690 physical delegates, over 1400 online registered delegates, and over 42 exhibitors representing over 45 countries across the globe for making this year’s summit a resounding success and a game-changing event. THE HIGHLIGHTS Among the key highlights of this year’s summit were the SME Masterclass, Business-to-Business Engagements, Career Guidance, and Youth Development Clinic The week kicked off to a great start with over 250 delegates attending the Tourism Start-up and SMME Training day in the form of masterclasses. This was delivered by 9 international experts and professionals in an interactive fashion with compelling insights. Key focus areas included digital and social media marketing, how to pursue a career in MICE, how to conceptualize and develop new business models in commercially viable Small Enterprises, how to stay in Business in the Covid-19 era, and more. Read More.   AFRICA YOUTH IN TOURISM INNOVATION CHALLENGE & INNOVATION PITCH BATTLE The 4th edition of the Innovation Summit received a staggering 100 competition entries in total from all over the continent which is over 50% of the previous year’s challenge. These are young people who have dared to redefine travel, tourism, and related industries on the only pan-African tourism start-up platform on the continent. The entries cut across the broader tourism value chain. The Top 6 Innovators are; Goodness Mashala, BookABus (BAB), South Africa, Jean Confident Nyizibose, QuickARProject, Rwanda, Daniel Mkhululi Nkuzuwalela, Flexie, Zimbabwe, Nkululeko Nkosi, Etela Africa, South Africa, Scott Blount, TripClip, South Africa, Jeffrey Takunda Murungweni, Trafiki Africa, a 19-year-old from Zimbabwe won the Mystery Judges Choice award. The Top 3 Innovators in Namibia were Maria Shipapo, Eino Kayoko, Paulina Alfeus who also took home the Namibian Youth in Tourism Innovation Award.  The British Council and partners hosted the Innovation for African Universities (IAU) program whose aim is to foster pathways for developing innovative mentorship programs in tourism that support young opportunistic entrepreneurship inventions, which are climate friendly and digitally orientated for sustainable tourism development in Sub Saharan Africa. The winners and runners-up in their respective countries are as follows; South Africa – Geniffer Mathebula (winner) and Dephney Masimula (runner-up); Kenya – Susan Waweru (winner) and Osmond Felix (runner-up); and Ghana – Corolyn Sekyi-Addo & Sylvia Laregeh Tettey (joint winners), and Ahmed Musah and Cameron Abbey (joint winners). ESTABLISHING THE AFRICA TOURISM INNOVATION HUB  WINDHOEK AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF NAMIBIA HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED TO BE THE CITY TO HOST THE FIRST AFRICA TOURISM INNOVATION HUB. Youth development and innovative entrepreneurship solutions are crucial in designing and sustaining inclusive tourism recovery in Africa. It is for this very purpose that Africa Tourism Partners have entered discussions with partners and key stakeholders to set in motion the establishment of the Africa Tourism Innovation Hub in Windhoek, Namibia. The aim is to incubate young and innovative entrepreneurs across the tourism ecosystem and related industries, while accelerating youth enterprises across the continent, starting with young innovators who entered this year’s Innovation Challenge. The Innovation Hubs’ objective is to create a platform that will connect young innovators to industry experts and mentors, and facilitate possible funding and investment opportunities, and career guidance. This pan-African platform is to ensure that young people are competent, skillful, and knowledgeable enough to partake and compete in the horizontal value chain of the industry. SAVE THE DATE – Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards Date: 24 – 26 October Host City and Country: Gaborone, Botswana For more information visit our website: https://www.tourismleadershipforum.africa/. Rejoice Chishamba – rejoice@africatourismpartners.com Register Now for the Africa Leadership Forum and Awards!  |
