UNWTO Global Rural Tourism Startup Competition and Win Valuable Awards 2021

UNWTO is offering "Global Rural Tourism Startup" competitionfor applicants from all over the world to accelerate Rural Development through tourism to achieve the SDGs.

Competition TimeLine:

• Launch: 6 April
• Deadline to submit candidatures: 1 July
• Annoucement of finalists: 15 August
• Final pitch session and announcement of winners: October

Competition Categories:

• People - Leaving no one behindProjects that incentivize the creation of jobs and opportunities, promote gender and youth empowerment, build opportunities for vulnerable groups in rural areas.
• Planet - building back betterProjects related to the promotion and protection of natural resources, namely the mitigation of the impact of tourism on waste, energy and water in rural areas.
• Prosperity - opportunities for growthStartups that provide innovative solutions through new business models, instruments that promote access to finance, markets and marketing for tourism in rural areas.
• Propulsion of Rural Tech - Implementation of new technologiesDeep Tech – startups implementing new technologies to advance tourism and development in rural areas.

• Mentoring by UNWTO and top partners
• Tailored support for your startup
• Investment opportunities
• Form part of the UNWTO Innovation Network
• Form part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages of the World Pilot Initiative
• Scholarship opportunities for the Tourism Online Academy
• Opportunity to present your startup at the 14th UNWTO General Assembly in Marrakech Morocco

• The competition is open to all entrepreneurs, whether individuals or legal entities, of legal age and with the legal capacity to enter into a contract.
• Projects must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, with the introduction of technological elements, and with a focus on one (or more) of the following areas:

1. The management of destinations or the private management of solutions / products / services developed around or for tourism in rural environments
2. The configuration of the supply side, seeking a balance between sustainable development and the profitability of the project, and maximizing its positive impacts
3. The connection with the market and the user experience in all phases of the journey

• The representative must be a natural person, of legal age and with the legal capacity to enter into contracts.

About UNWTO:

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

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