The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched the Women in Tech Startup Competition in the Middle East, with the aim of promoting creative, inventive female-led businesses. This initiative is part of UNWTO's dedication to the ideals of sustainable development for the emancipation of women and girls and gender equality. According to Arabian Business magazine, only 34 percent of tech startups in the Middle East are founded by women, and UNWTO seeks to provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs to prosper in the tourism tech industry. The contest is in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which places a strong emphasis on digital transformation and the inclusion of women in leadership.
Natalia Bayona, UNWTO’s director of innovation, education, and investments, highlighted that Saudi Arabian startups are expanding quickly as a result of the nation's accessibility to the tourism industry and tourist attractions. The UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition provides a platform for Saudi startups to gain international visibility and recognition, attracting more foreign investors and tourists. The competition has categories focused on future technology, tourism and travel, events and communities, and social effect.
The competition's winners will have access to a network of investors, incubators, businesses, and foreign authorities as well as mentorships and seminars. Additionally, they will be able to access the UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, an online platform for training in the tourism industry, and present at a UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures innovation session in Saudi Arabia.
Bayona emphasized the importance of digital transformation in the travel industry and the need to connect with key actors of innovation ecosystems for a better and sustainable future. She encouraged women in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to seize the opportunity to work on innovative solutions, showcase their ideas, and submit their projects to the UNWTO startup competition.
The UNWTO recently signed an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism to develop training and certification programs in the Kingdom, promote innovation and digital transformation, and support small- and medium-sized enterprises and youth interested in the tourism sector. This is part of UNWTO's efforts to encourage advancements in female opportunities in the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, contributing to the global tourism ecosystem and the 2030 agenda.
The Women in Tech Startup Competition will conclude at the end of June, and UNWTO remains committed to fostering innovation and supporting women entrepreneurs in the tourism tech industry in the Middle East and beyond.
