…Organisers release new date for 7th summit
The 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (AYTIS) has now been officially closed, following an exciting period of innovative submissions from young change-makers. A staggering 151 entries were received from innovators across the African continent.
The submission period for the innovation challenge has concluded, with the organisers now evaluating the entries. The pre-qualification process will occur in three phases. In the first phase, judges will select the top 20 participants to engage in an online boot camp. Subsequently, five finalists will be chosen. Finalists will be notified by April 30, 2025, and an announcement will be made on media platforms.
As the challenge approaches its conclusion, the Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) and its partners formally invite all young innovators and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, as well as in related fields such as fintech, digital marketing, and mobility, to plan for their trips to Nairobi for the upcoming Africa Youth in Tourism Summit. This year’s summit is scheduled to take place from June 24-27, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The summit will bring together young innovators, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors for impactful discussions, networking, and collaboration. It will also feature the Innovation Challenge finalists, who will present their groundbreaking ideas live before an esteemed panel of judges and potential investors.
However, Africa Tourism Partners, UN Tourism, and BDO, together with host partners the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Kenya, TEAMS Africa, and the Kenya Tourism Board, invite all tourism stakeholders and youth from across Africa in the travel, tourism, hospitality, and related sectors to register and attend the 2025 Summit.
As well, desktop exhibition space will be allocated on a first come first serve basis, while other opportunities that participants will indulge in include; speed marketing, one-on-one meetings, career guidance clinic, masterclasses for entrepreneurs in MICE and youth, and platforms for brand activation.
All interested stakeholders are encouraged to register on – https://youthtourismsummit.com/ to attend the Summit and stand a chance to connect, learn and grow their businesses.
The organisers are promising more details on the event programme and speakers’ lineup as well as the announcement of the selected top 5 innovators to be made on June 30, 2025.
In another development, Africa Tourism Partners, UN Tourism and BDO have announced new dates for the 2025 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge 2025.
The summit was originally scheduled for June 10-13, 2025 but has now been rescheduled to take place from June 24-27, 2025. The change is a result of the 68th UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa, which is also set to take place in Nigeria on the same dates.
The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit, being a marketplace for meaningful networking, participants will benefit from match-making and exploring new business opportunities in Kenya and the rest of East Africa, youth employability and career development clinic, intra-Africa market access for youth in tourism and entrepreneurship and youth entrepreneurship, investment sourcing and project financing, among several other activities lined up for the four days of the summit. All key stakeholders therefore encouraged to register now – www.youthtourismsummit.comto attend and leverage this platform for business growth, learning and knowledge sharing.
Themed “Creating Innovative Entrepreneurship Pathways and Intra-Africa Business Connections for African Youth”the Challenge is a catalyst for making tourism start-ups and businesses smarter through celebrating innovation and leading the digital transformation of the sector. The 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge is being held at a pivotal moment marked by the 4th industrial revolution, during which artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly employed as a strategic tool for revenue generation, the scaling of small businesses, and the advancement of innovative solutions.
