Yesterday, Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), in collaboration with UN Tourism, BDO, AfCFTA, and host partner Teams Africa, successfully launched the 7th and 2025 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge (AYTIC) through a virtual event.

The 7th edition of the Africa Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 10 to 13, 2025. Previous hosts of the summit include South Africa (2019), Rwanda (2020), Ghana (2021), and Namibia, which hosted the event from 2022 to 2024 through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism.

Kwakye Donkor, CEO of Africa Tourism Partners, expressed optimism about the upcoming summit, stating, “We believe that our partnership with TEAMS Africa, along with the support of the Kenya Tourism Board and other private sector partners, will be a game changer for the Summit.”

Convened annually by ATP in collaboration with the UNWTO and BDO, this year’s Summit aims to enhance intra-Africa trade in tourism services among African youth and showcase youth-led tourism businesses across the continent. The event will feature desktop exhibitions highlighting youth empowerment initiatives and SMEs in tourism, travel technology, fintech, and social entrepreneurship. Additionally, there will be intergenerational tourism trading in services, offering business-to-business opportunities for tour operators, accommodation providers, transport services, educational institutions, travel technology start-ups, employment agencies, and professional development organizations.

The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge (YTIC) targets young people up to age 35, including post-graduate students. This initiative provides a platform for young innovators, entrepreneurs, and post-graduate students from across Africa to contribute to the continent’s tourism sector. AYTIC invites youth to present their innovative ideas, technological solutions, and social entrepreneurship projects, attracting interest from investors and venture capitalists.

Winners will gain access to the Africa Tourism Innovation Hub, housed at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Here, they will receive mentorship and connect with potential funders. The ATIH is a specially designed space that brings together researchers, creators, and innovators to cultivate ideas, nurture start-ups, and explore business opportunities.

Young Africans up to the age of 35 and postgraduate students are encouraged to enter the Challenge. The platform opened on December 10, 2024, to receive entries.

Africa News

Africa Tourism Partners Launches 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge