UNWTO Startup Competition:
National Tourism Startup Competition:
Invest in the development of Moroccan Tourism supported by SMIT
Finalists
Category 1: Innovation in blue economies - Life below water
Nama social Hub
Category 2: Innovation in natural heritage - Life on Land Sub-category: Nature, trekking & hiking
Into The Wild
Category 2: Innovation in natural heritage - Life on Land Sub-category: Desert & Oasis Adventure
Category 3: Innovation in cultural heritage - Preservation through cultural innovation
Category 4: Sustainable Urban Futures - Innovation in urban tourism
Category 1: Innovation in blue economies – Life below water
Morocco is one of the world's top destinations for water sports (surfing and kitesurfing), capitalizing on the mythical spots of the Atlantic corridor. The offered experiences revolve around the discovery of water sports pleasures and are mainly declined in aquatic activities, such as surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and relaxation activities such as yoga retreats by the sea. In this category, we are looking for solutions that contribute to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.Category 2: Innovation in natural heritage - Life on Land
Sub-category: Nature, trekking & hiking
Sub-category: Desert & Oasis Adventure
Category 3: Innovation in cultural heritage - Preservation through cultural innovation
Morocco has a diverse and rich cultural heritage, with strengthened medinas, Berber earthen houses, kasbahs, but also a very rich gastronomy and a wonderful craft industry. We are looking for startups that can discover the potential of unexploited tourism products through the rehabilitation and the revaluation of material heritage (medinas, ksours and kasbahs) and new activities.Category 4: Sustainable Urban Futures
To consolidate and complete the city-break offer with animation, festivity, culture, and outdoor activities of the Kingdom's main urban tourism destinations, we are looking for startups that present sustainable and SMART features that can assure Moroccan cities are accessible, resourceful and diverse.25 November 2022
Launch in the Thematic Session of the UNWTO Executive Council
Deadline of the applications.
March 2023
Selection and announcement of the preselected candidates
April - June 2023 (tbc)
(2 days before the final event) Acceleration and Mentorships by experts in the field
April - June 2023 (tbc)
Tourism Tech Adventures Morocco Pitch of the finalists Round tables and Thematic Sessions
2023-2024
Impact:
Personalized support for winning startups
- Be innovative/disruptive in nature providing value-added solutions;
- Harnessing the impact of new technologies;
- Alternative and complementary business models to harness the economic impact of tourism in destination(s);
- Smart and innovative solutions for sustainable experiences;
- Entrepreneur/promoter team: Suitability of the promoter team, motivation, and interest;
- Startup in Seed Stage or Early Stage (have a minimum viable product or an idea that is ready to be developed and funded);
- Emphasize the promotion of gender equity (and female empowerment), digitalization, environmental preservation, local communities, and youth leadership;
- Invitation of the winners to pitch at the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures Morocco (March – TBC);
- Mentorship and pitch training by UNWTO and Partners;
- Access to 90+ Venture Capitalists, Top Corporations, and 150+ Countries;
- Become a Member of the UNWTO Innovation Network;
- Scholarship opportunities for the Tourism Online Academy;
- Access to acceleration programmes (TBC)
Ecosystem collaborators
About Innovation at UNWTO:
About the Société Marocaine d’Ingénierie Touristique (SMIT):
The Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development – SMIT is a government institution created in 2008 by the Moroccan government in order to implement the development strategy of the tourism product in Morocco. In order to make the Moroccan tourism product more attractive, SMIT provids support and assistance to investors and local communities through a range of actions and incentives. Capitalizing on its extensive knowledge of the Moroccan market and on its knowledge of the needs of development of each region, SMIT offers qualitative, tailored solutions to the development of natural and cultural assets, to promote the development of a unique product that stands out from the international offer.
Through the identification of the right concept for each destination, SMIT aims to shape the Moroccan tourism landscape, while extending the socio-economic advantages to each component of the industry's value chain and ensuring equity between territories.
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