Dubai Tourism launches SMEs start-up competition

Nigerian SME owners, especially those in the tourism business have been offered a great opportunity to showcase their businesses as leading tourism company, Dubai Tourism, launches SMEs Start-up Competition. This announcement was made by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), it is a strategic collaboration with GITEX Future Stars. The first-ever Dubai Tourism Start-up Competition invites bright minds and innovators from around the world to submit ideas and business plans that will further revolutionise the city’s travel and tourism sectors.

The competition is in line with the Dubai 10X initiative launched under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which is guiding the emirate’s journey towards becoming a global hub for innovation in the next ten years. It is also an effort towards discovering innovative solutions and facilitating further growth of the start-up ecosystem, in alignment with Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020, to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020.

Speaking about the Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition, Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director – Tourism Development & Investments, Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing said: “Dubai has grown to become the business capital of the region – and, through the launch of the first-ever Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition, we aim to continue to encourage pioneering thinking, and offer a platform for start-ups to succeed. As we progress towards the future, start-ups play a crucial role not only in the growth of the economy, but also in discovering solutions to meet evolving needs and tackle industry gaps. We are proud to collaborate with GITEX Future Stars to drive entrepreneurship forward, and are committed to building an environment that will help nurture innovative ideas and facilitate success.”

The Futurism competition features two key pillar categories – hospitality and visitor experience – for which individuals and start-ups can submit innovative ideas and business plans. Each submission will be judged by panel of experts, and a shortlist of the top 30 submissions will be awarded exhibition space at this year’s edition of GITEX Technology Week, scheduled to take place in Dubai from 8-12 October 2017, offering a platform for the shortlists to showcase their innovative solutions to attending conglomerates, investors and venture capitalists. Ultimately, three winners will be selected in each category who will receive access to Dubai Tourism experts, as well as industry leaders to transform their vision to reality. A total prize value of US$ 100,000 has also been allocated to be distributed to the six winners as initial start-up capital.

“GITEX Future Stars is designed to bring creative technologies and innovation to the forefront of the industry. The Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition will provide a stage for the world’s best travel technology startups to come together to enhance and disrupt technology solutions for travelers across the world. Dubai has long been a world leader in both technology and tourism, making it the ideal location to launch a global travel technology competition that is sure to enhance the way the world travels and support tourism in Dubai and beyond,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition was launched at an exclusive Breakfast Workshop held on 31 July at Dubai World Trade Centre. The workshop, attended by over 100 participants, was led by Dubai Tourism representatives and industry experts including: Amadeus, Beco Capital, Roya, Startupbootcamp and Astrolabs. Offering insights into the challenges and opportunities for startups, a panel discussion during the workshop also shed light on potential gaps within the travel and tourism sectors that could pose as opportunities for startups to innovate.