Brazil launch a startups challenge to accelerate the resumption through innovation

The Ministry of Tourism (MTur) launched, this Wednesday (15.07), the 1st Brazilian Challenge of Innovation in Tourism, in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), Wakalua Innovation Hub - first global innovation pole in tourism, and with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN agency dedicated to the sector. The unprecedented competition seeks solutions for the resumption of Brazilian tourism through technological-based projects that respond both to the immediate needs of the post-pandemic context and to the general challenges of Brazilian tourism. Registration is now open on the competition's website and ends on September 2.

The best Brazilian projects will be classified for the semifinals of the third edition of the UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, a global challenge promoted by the OMT in partnership with Wakalua, and they will dispute a trip to Madrid (Spain) for a training and participation program at FITUR 2021, the largest tourism fair in the world. The competition will be held entirely online and details about the final event will be announced on the website.

The competition is part of a collaboration between MTur and Wakalua to stimulate tourism innovation in Brazil, improving the competitiveness of Brazilian tourism through the digital transformation of public and private organizations. The project foresees the installation of a hub dedicated to the sector in the country. Since January, an ecosystem mapping and a multi-annual strategy proposal for the area have been carried out, which will be submitted to consultation with the sector.

The Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, highlighted the importance of the challenge and highlighted the work developed in partnership with Wakalua, especially in the process of resuming tourist activities in Brazil. "Technological and innovation solutions will be essential to help the sector in the post-pandemic recovery and will be added to the actions already developed by the federal government," he said. "We are certain that Brazil will succeed on this path".

For the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Marcos Pontes, Brazil's ability to develop innovations and startups will collaborate with increasing the country's tourism potential. “A competition like this, with the participation of our entrepreneurs here in Brazil, with all the creativity, for an area as promising as this, I am sure it will bear wonderful fruits”, he highlighted.

For Zurab Pololikashvili, WTO general secretary, "tourism faces the greatest challenge of a generation, in Brazil and in the world. We now have the opportunity to rethink tourism and do things better, with technology in our favor, building resilience for the future. Virtual reality, artificial intelligence and big data will be of great importance in reactivating and rebuilding the sector. "

“We are very honored to be able to support Brazil in joining the tourism revolution, with technology, sustainability and social development. At Globalia we are aware that the tourism of the future will not be the same as yesterday; it needs to be better for the planet and for our children. This competition is just the starting point of a long journey in Brazil, in search of solutions to the challenges of the sector through innovation ”, said Globalia's CEO, Javier Hidalgo.

Startups will be able to enroll in two categories: Reactivate Tourism, focusing on solutions of immediate applicability for reactivating the sector with safety and health, and Building Tourism of the Future, focusing on long-term solutions for digital transformation and development sustainable. The projects can be related to any points of the tourism value chain, and can be aimed at tourists, companies, the public sector or communities.

In the Reactivate Tourism category, projects related to safety, health and well-being will be evaluated; promotion of internal and niche tourism (ecotourism, wine tourism, gastronomic tourism, adventure tourism, etc.), social tourism, cancellations and exchanges, digital insertion of small establishments, service providers and communities, and adaptation of experiences.

In the Building the Tourism of the Future category, projects must be related to intelligent management and operation, smart destinations, tourist experience, visas and migratory controls, or sustainability and circular economy.

The evaluation of the projects will be carried out by tourism and innovation leaders in the country. The final selection will be announced at the end of September.