UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge 2025 – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline: December 5, 2025

Applications are actually open for the 2025 UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge. This Global Social Innovation Challenge seeks to establish and assist groundbreaking startups, scaleups, and entrepreneurs who’re driving change in three key areas: Community-based Tourism, Inclusivity & Accessibility, and Green Projects. The problem invites revolutionary options that improve the tourism ecosystem by sustainable practices, inclusivity, and group empowerment. By specializing in these three pillars, the problem goals to assist initiatives that not solely create financial Opportunities but in addition promote equality, sustainability, and the preservation of cultural heritage and pure assets.

Selected finalists shall be invited to pitch their options on the UN Tourism Tech Adventures and profit from the UN Tourism Innovation Network, together with potential entry to finance, pilot initiatives, and international visibility. 

Eligibility

Startups, scaleups, revolutionary MSMEs, tourism firms, and organizations that meet the next necessities can apply:

• Have an revolutionary and/or disruptive nature;
• Offer sustainable and value-added options for the tourism sector;
• Leverage new applied sciences and revolutionary options in community-based tourism, accessibility,  and/or inexperienced initiatives;
• Have potential for progress, scalability, and application;
• Preferably have a minimal viable product (MVP). However, initiatives which are able to be developed, in later levels of the concept part may even be thought of;
• Have a structured marketing strategy;
• Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Benefits

• 6 Scholarships from Sommet Education Foundation for Hospitality Education Programmes at Les Roches Marbella Campus in Spain (extra info and circumstances, out there within the Terms and Conditions under)
• Pitch at UN Tourism Demo Day
• Access to 90+ Investors;
• Access to Top Corporations in 160+ Countries;
• Curated mentorship programmes;
• Potential pilot mission with non-public sector collaborators and establishments;
• Plug and Play advantages:
  • Registered profile on Playbook;
  • Invitation to take part within the Silicon Valley Summit;
  • Access to expertise and synergies with Plug and Play’s portfolio;
• Scholarships from the UN Tourism Online Academy.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge