Gitex Launches Futurism, Dubai’s First Ever Tourism Startup Competition

Dubai Tourism has just teamed up with massive tech Conference Gitex Future Stars, launching Futurism, the city’s first  startup competition focusing on tourism. Setting off to scour the entrepreneurial ecosystem innovative solutions to cater for the city’s ever more ambitious goal of attracting 20 million visitors per year by 2020, the competition invites bright minds and innovators from around the world to submit ideas and business plans to boost the city’s tourism sector.

The initiative was launched at an exclusive Breakfast Workshop held on 31 July at Dubai World Trade Centre, where representatives of Dubai Tourism along with key industry players such as Amadeus, Beco Capital, Roya, Startupbootcamp and Astrolabs, discussed the main challenges facing tourism in the Emirati city.

“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 startups to succeed,” said Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director of Tourism Development & Investments at Dubai’s Department of Tourism.

The competition features two pillars: hospitality and visitor experience. The panel will select  the top 30 submissions, which will be awarded exhibition space at the mammoth Gitex Technology Week, set to take place in Dubai from 8-12 October 2017. In addition, three winners will be coached by Dubai Tourism experts, as well as industry, with a total prize value of $100,000 awarded to six winners as initial startup capital.

The competition is open for submissions until early September. Interested applicants can apply online here.