Summit for Youth and Tourism in Africa

For the next three days, Windhoek will be the mecca for youth and innovative ideas around tourism and the travel industry in Africa.

From today to Friday, the Safari Conference Centre will host the fourth Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit (AYTIS) - with a competition for innovative concepts. AYTIS is the only pan-African tourism event for young entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Government representatives, national and international tourism experts and companies from the travel industry as well as start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises and students are expected to attend. The organiser Africa Tourism Partners expects 250 participants to come in person and about 1,600 interested people to follow the event virtually.

Platform for young people and start-ups in Africa

The partner organiser is the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The patronage is provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) and the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).

"The AYTIS not only contributes to the promotion of tourism, but also to the economic development of African youth," says Matthias Lemcke, Acting Area Manager Europe & Manager Marketing and PR Europe of the NTB. "With this event, many people are offered opportunities that would otherwise be denied to them. Therefore, we are very happy about the keen interest and the many innovative and creative ideas."

Competition of innovations

An important component of the summit is the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge. A distinguished jury of industry leaders will judge innovative ideas and concepts to strengthen the tourism industry. The five finalists will be presented during the event.

The summit makes an important contribution to promoting African youth, start-ups and small businesses. Young people will learn about career opportunities in fields such as aviation, travel, hospitality and conservation. Young entrepreneurs and small businesses can make contacts, including potential investors or partners. The aim is also to involve the people of Africa more broadly in the tourism business.

Gondwana present fourfold

Gondwana Collection Namibia is also taking part in the summit. And it is doing so in four ways: as a sponsor, as a panel speaker, in the form of a stand and as a participant.

Gondwana is donating prizes worth a total of more than N$ 28,000 for the first three contestants in the innovation competition. The prizes are a voucher for two persons for two nights in accommodation in the Experience & Comfort Collection (value: more than N$ 7,700), in accommodation in the Premium Collection (more than N$ 8,500) and in accommodation in the Premium Plus Collection (more than N$ 12,500).

Managing Director of Gondwana Collection Namibia, Gys Joubert will speak as one of the tourism experts on the panel discussion on "The 'art and science' of quality assurance: creating competitive benchmarks and quality standards for more growth in global markets".

Gondwana will also have a stand as a contact point for interested parties. And last but not least, several Gondwana employees are among the participants at the summit. To make contacts, receive suggestions and exchange experiences.

Sven-Eric Stender