UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge
The UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize the tourism industry. Launched by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), this challenge seeks to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging start-ups and scale-ups to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance tourism experiences, promote sustainability, and drive economic growth.
What is it?
The UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is an international competition designed to support projects that leverage digital technologies to transform the tourism sector. The challenge focuses on addressing key areas such as digital transformation, sustainability, inclusivity, and digital governance. By encouraging the development of innovative AI solutions, the challenge aims to elevate destination appeal, optimize resource management, and create intelligent, impactful tourism experiences.
Categories
The challenge features several categories, each targeting a specific aspect of the tourism industry. These categories include:
1. Branding, Promotion & Marketing: Innovations that enhance destination branding and promotion through AI and deep technologies. This category emphasizes sustainable practices, cultural heritage preservation, and improving the visitor experience while maintaining global appeal and authenticity.
2. Smart Destinations & Deep Technologies: Integrated technologies that create seamless and sustainable visitor experiences at smart destinations. This category focuses on optimizing destination management, improving operational efficiency, and sustainability through AI and green tech solutions.
3. Education & Technology: AI-driven solutions that enhance education and training in the tourism sector. This category aims to foster professional development and sustainable career paths, equipping tourism professionals with the skills needed to implement eco-friendly practices and support long-term tourism growth.
4. Efficiency & Operations: AI solutions that optimize operations and improve service delivery across the tourism value chain. This category targets innovations that streamline processes, enhance marketing strategies, and provide insights into consumer behavior and trends.
Who Can Participate?
The challenge is open to individuals, teams, and companies from across the globe. Applicants must submit a detailed proposal outlining their innovative solution, its potential impact on the tourism sector, and a plan for implementation.
Proposals will be evaluated based on creativity, Ease of value capture, Potential impact on business, Product/technology maturity, Maturity of the team and the organization, Preparing for partnerships, Contribution to selected Sustainable Development Goals, feasibility, and scalability.
Participants must be at least 18 years old and have a proven track record of innovation in the tourism or technology sectors.
Benefits
Benefits for winning startups include, but are not limited to:
 Presentation at the UN Tourism Demo Day
 Acceleration program at SPARK, the Innovation Sphere of Les Roches
 Access to over 90 venture capitalists
 Access to leading companies and over 150 countries
 Personalized mentoring programs
 Possibility of pilot project with collaborators from the private sector and institutions
 Plug and Play will offer a registered profile on Playbook, an invitation to participate in our Silicon Valley Summit, and access to talent and synergies with their Portfolio.
How Can One Participate?
Participating in the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is straightforward. Here are the steps to enter:
1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the UNWTO website and create an account.
2. Prepare Your Proposal: Develop a detailed proposal outlining your innovative AI solution, its potential impact, and a plan for implementation.
3. Submit Your Entry: Complete the submission process and ensure that all required information is provided.
4. Wait for Judging: Your proposal will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, and finalists will be announced.
5. Present Your Pitch: Finalists will have the opportunity to present their pitches at the UN Tourism Demo Day, where they can showcase their projects and gain visibility.
Deadline Date
The deadline for submitting entries to the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is March, 2025. Make sure to submit your proposal well before the deadline to ensure it is considered.
Learn More About the Event
To learn more about the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge, visit the official website at UNWTO. Here, you can find detailed information about the competition, entry requirements, categories, prizes, and previous winners. You can also stay updated on any announcements or changes related to the challenge.
The UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge is a unique opportunity for creative minds to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the tourism sector.
