In a historic collaboration, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the French government have introduced the UN Tourism National Open Innovation Challenge. This initiative, the first of its kind, aims to drive forward innovation in tourism by supporting emerging entrepreneurs and technology leaders in the travel industry.
France, a global leader in tourism with an impressive 100 million international visitors in 2023, is also a hub of innovation, hosting approximately 60,000 startups and over 30 unicorns. This challenge highlights France’s commitment to pioneering advancements in travel technology and sustainable tourism.
"France, as both the world’s top tourist destination and an innovation leader, is now taking strategic steps to cultivate the next generation of travel tech innovators,” remarked Marina Ferrari, France’s Delegated Minister for Tourism Economy. “Our startup ecosystem is brimming with solutions to make tourism more sustainable and environmentally responsible, which now have the chance to benefit from international support through UN Tourism.”
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, noted, “France’s role as a tourism leader and innovator is unparalleled. This new competition is designed to discover and support visionary travel tech solutions that will shape the future of global tourism.”
Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, also praised the “Welcome to France” and “French Tech” initiatives for their robust startup support frameworks. These initiatives fuel a dynamic ecosystem that comprises nearly 25,000 startups and over 1.1 million jobs, setting a benchmark for global entrepreneurship.
The innovation challenge encourages French startups and major corporations, domestic or international, within the tourism industry to join forces. Each startup should present a viable solution, whether an MVP, prototype, or scalable technology. Partner companies are expected to offer resources, guidance, and mentorship to help bring these ideas to fruition, further boosting the travel tech sector.
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