The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), following the successful first two events, is holding the 3rd Global Gastronomy Tourism Startup Competition (3RD GLOBAL GASTRONOMY TOURISM STARTUP COMPETITION) in collaboration with the Basque Culinary Center. The competition aims to accelerate Gastronomy tourism initiatives through Innovation, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for a more sustainable and resilient, inclusive tourism .
HISTORY:
With continuous growth over the last decade , tourism creates around one in 10 jobs and represents 10.2% of global GDP . At the intersection with the gastronomy sector , food tourism or gastronomic tourism, it is organized around experiential travel and is based on ethical and sustainable values related to the territory, heritage , local culture , local products , authenticity , tradition or culinary techniques at a local, regional or national level.
The undeniable influence of gastronomy on travel and the growing demand for gastronomic tourism have made this region one of the segments with the greatest growth opportunities attracting increasing interest from governments . Gastronomic tourism stimulates entrepreneurship and the creation of new companies and organizations that necessarily have a cross-cutting impact on other sectors.
THE COMPETITION:
Startups that develop and promote a newly established business with a high technological component to provide solutions or new services related to the gastronomic tourism sector.
Local impact
Startups that develop and promote a project with a high component of transformation and social improvement in the field of its implementation and are linked to the gastronomic tourism sector.
Sustainability and waste
Startups that develop and promote a project with a high component of sustainability and/or food waste management in relation to the impact caused by tourists
OPPORTUNITIES – BENEFITS:
As part of the competition , candidate businesses will enjoy a series of benefits such as: guidance from UNWTO and leading partners, investment opportunities , participation in the World Tourism Organization's innovation network , scholarship opportunities for the Online Tourism Academy, the opportunity to present their startup at the 7th UN Gastronomy Tourism Forum (Nara, Japan June 2022) and more.
Deadline for submission of applications: February 28, 2022
Announcement of startups on the Electronic Platform: April 1, 2022
Announcement of winners and competition session: May 2022 .
More information about the terms and criteria of the competition can be found at the link: https://www.unwto.org/3rd-global-gastronomy-tourism-startup-competition .
