UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge 2025

Reach us on

Applications are open for UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge 2025. This Global Social Innovation Challenge seeks to identify and support groundbreaking startups, scaleups, and entrepreneurs who are driving change in three key areas: Community-based Tourism, Inclusivity & Accessibility, and Green Projects. The challenge invites innovative solutions that enhance the tourism ecosystem through sustainable practices, inclusivity, and community empowerment. By focusing on these three pillars, the challenge aims to support initiatives that not only create economic opportunities but also promote equality, sustainability, and the preservation of cultural heritage and natural resources.

Selected finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at the UN Tourism Tech Adventures and benefit from the UN Tourism Innovation Network, including potential access to finance, pilot projects, and global visibility.

UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge Objectives

Innovate: Support solutions that empower communities, enhance accessibility, and promote green tourism practices.
Adopt: Encourage widespread adoption of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable tourism practices.
Collaborate: Foster partnerships between governments, industries, entrepreneurs and civil society organizations to drive social innovation through global tourism transformation.
Identify, train and support groundbreaking startups, scaleups, entrepreneurs and talented individuals who are driving change in three key areas: Community-based Tourism, Inclusivity & Accessibility, and Green Projects.
Provide the dedicated academic competences and skills to develop these leaders and entrepreneurs to enable them to develop and scale-up new products and services within Tourism.
Sustain: Promote long-term solutions that balance economic growth, environmental preservation, and social equity within the tourism sector.
Scale: Identify and accelerate scale innovations with the potential for global impact in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient tourism industry

UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge Benefits

6 Scholarships from Sommet Education Foundation for Hospitality Education Programmes at Les Roches Marbella Campus in Spain (more information and conditions, available in the Terms and Conditions below)
Pitch at UN Tourism Demo Day
Access to 90+ Investors;
Access to Top Corporations in 160+ Countries;
Curated mentorship programmes;
Potential pilot project with private sector collaborators and institutions;
Plug and Play benefits:
- Registered profile on Playbook;
- Invitation to participate in the Silicon Valley Summit;
- Access to talent and synergies with Plug and Play’s portfolio;
Scholarships from the UN Tourism Online Academy.

Eligibility Criteria

Startups, scaleups, innovative MSMEs, tourism companies, and organizations that meet the following requirements can apply:

Have an innovative and/or disruptive nature;
Offer sustainable and value-added solutions for the tourism sector;
Leverage new technologies and innovative solutions in community-based tourism, accessibility, and/or green projects;
Have potential for growth, scalability, and application;
Preferably have a minimum viable product (MVP). However, projects that are ready to be developed, in later stages of the idea phase will also be considered;
Have a structured business plan;
Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).