5th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit moves to Swakopmund
The 5th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge is set to take place from May 31 to June 2, 2023, in Swakopmund, Namibia, hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism. Swakopmund is a coastal city west of the capital, Windhoek, known for its beautiful sandy beaches.
In collaboration with the UNWTO and BDO, this year's Summit will offer a desktop exhibition, SME Digital/social media and Entrepreneurship Masterclass, and SMEs trade offerings from various sectors such as tour operators, tourism accommodation facilities, transport service providers, educational institutions, travel and marketing technology start-ups and incubators, employment agencies, and professional development. The aim of the Summit is to provide a transformative platform for African youth, start-ups, entrepreneurs, students, and small enterprises to generate income and develop their careers.
One of the major highlights of this year's Summit is the hosted buyer program, which runs concurrently with the Summit and has been created by the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism. Hosted buyers will have access to informal networking events, including the Investment Business in Tourism networking meetings organized by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and B2B sessions. This is an opportunity for buyers from around the world to network with industry decision-makers and stakeholders and negotiate the best deals on products and services under one roof. The hosted buyer program also aims to market Namibia to the world.
The faculty for this year's summit includes a variety of distinguished individuals, such as Elcia Grandcourt, Director of the Africa Department at UNWTO in Spain, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, MP Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism in Namibia, Dr. Linda Pereira of CPL Events in Portugal, Nangula Uaandja CEO of The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Prof. Michael Twum-Darko of Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and other experts in the field of tourism and entrepreneurship.
