The 5th and 2023 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit, hosted by the Namibia Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism in partnership with Africa Tourism Partners, UNWTO, and BDO, was a tremendous success.
The Summit, held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from May 30 to June 2, 2023, drew many physical and virtual participants from Africa and worldwide. Participants included youth in tourism, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses, and they had the chance to reconnect, participate, and learn.
Top Three Innovation Challenge Participants Announced
The strong competitiveness among African youth innovators in the travel and tourism industry went another step as the Top Three winners in the innovation challenge emerged. This was after several exchanges, boot camps, mentorship, presentations and judging.
The top three participants are Cornelius Ugwunwa of Nigeria, Ntshabo Lehong of South Africa, and Gloria Kisilu of Kenya.
The winner of the 5th and 2023 Africa Youth In Tourism Innovation Awards will be announced during the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum & Awards in Botswana later this year.
International Hosted Buyers & B2B Session
The B2B session and hosted buyers programme are significant components of the Africa Youth In Tourism Innovation Summit.
In addition to attending the Summit, international hosted buyers had the opportunity to participate in the Social Media, Digital Marketing, and MICE Masterclasses. The host country uniquely packaged the hosted buyer program to expose Namibia’s tourism attractions, culture, gastronomy, and activities, enabling the host buyers to craft packages and market the country from a knowledgeable angle.