Highlights of the Future of Travel & Tourism in the Wake of Covid-19
The Future of travel and tourism in the wake of COVID 19 by WTTC, 2020, shows that the world has and continues to suffer sizeable losses and setbacks due to COVID-19. Not least among those setbacks is the shock to the Travel & Tourism sector.
- 90% of the global population adjusted to life under travel restrictions and others stayed home in fear of the virus itself, the sector came to a near-total standstill.
- The Communities, large and small, depending on tourism and travel shouldering the burden of zero revenues, and millions have been furloughed or laid off within a few short months.
- More than 121 million global Travel & Tourism jobs and an estimated US$3.4 trillion in global GDP could be lost as a result of COVID-19
Change in Demand
- Traveler preferences and behaviors have shifted toward the familiar, predictable, and trusted.
- Domestic and regional vacations and the outdoors will reign in the short-term, with tourism businesses and destinations already adapting.
Health & Hygiene
- Health and safety are paramount in this new era. Personal experiences, advice from experts, and concerns for distancing will guide consumer behavior in the short- to mid-term.
Innovation & Digitization
- Digital adoption and consumption are on the rise, with consumers now expecting contactless technologies, including biometrics among others, as a basic prerequisite for a safe and seamless travel experience.
- Cybersecurity is only becoming more important, particularly as remote work becomes the norm in the short to medium term and as identities are digitized.
AREAS FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO BUILD THEIR STARTUPS IN TOURISM AND TRAVEL SECTOR
The following are Opportunities for Entrepreneurs to build their Startups and reshape the tourism sector.
Improve Travel Experience
1. The Domestic & Regional Rebirth
The research found that about 77% of Chinese travelers favoring domestic travel within three months after the peak of the crisis. 71% of Americans looking at domestic locations.
What innovators need to do to boost domestic and regional tourism and travel?
Build innovative product which will facilitate domestic and regional tourism and travel.
2. Appetite for Risk
A traveler survey found that the “fear of exposing others” was the top concern for 39% of travelers in the UK and 31% in France.
What innovators need to do to address risk issues in domestic, regional, and international tourism and travel?
Build innovative product which will allow users to share risk places and things to do for each destination.
3. Contactless Convenience & automation
As new business models emerge to adapt to the changing market needs, the sector will focus on “automating the predictable so it can humanize the exceptional” according to Matthew Upchurch, Chairman & CEO of Virtuoso
What kind of Startups needed?
Building Startups to facilitate contactless or automation delivery of Tourism and travel services.
For example:
- Payment service: The Tourism sector need products which will facilitate cashless payment.
- Check-in or check out: The Tourism sector need products which will facilitate contactless check-in & check out.
Improve Business or Service Delivery
1. Acceleration of Digitization
Thinking about the airport of the future, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, noted that a distributed airport experience with travelers getting into pods as they go through necessary checks may be developed in the future, and effectively reducing the number of travelers touchpoints.
What kind of Startups needed?
Building Startups to automate services across the traveler journey including the integration of connected rooms, contactless check-in, digital car keys, and delivery robots, among other technologies.
2. The Rise of Virtual
Tourism Businesses and destinations alike will continue to adapt to the changing times, even offering virtual experiences as they work to re-inspire wanderlust in travelers and restart the sector.
What kind of Startups needed?
Building Startups to facilitate virtual tourism. Entrepreneurs can partner with tour operators to execute this startup.
3. Threat Prevention
With the rise of remote work and the use of remote connections, businesses will prioritize the protection of consumer data accordingly and guard against major data breaches at a time when trust is paramount. According to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, “defense and investment against cyberattacks need to intensify irrespective of COVID-19”.
What kind of Startups needed?
Building Startups to support cybersecurity to protect the business from cyber-attacks.
Following the success of the inaugural Congress, the Tanzania Oil & Gas Congress returns for a second year from 24-25 September 2018, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania with the support of the Ministry of Energy, TPDC, PURA and EWURA. Focusing on the latest project updates and developments in the oil and gas industry in Tanzania, this is the official platform promoting government and industry collaboration. The Ministry, TPDC and parastatals will be sending delegations to meet and engage with all the key industry players to discuss new opportunities for partnerships and investment.
Take a look at the 2018 brochure for an overview of what to expect at this year’s Congress, including:
- Latest speakers confirmed
- Key benefits of attending the official Congress
- Who you will meet
- Opportunities to develop strategic partnerships
To access this opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion that will end up with identifying opportunities resulting from investments in the oil and gas sector and also clarify solutions on how the sector can specifically underpin the development of our country,
Main Grant Application Announcement : January 2018
AWDF invites applications from eligible African women’s organisations under its main grants programme. Applications for the first grantmaking round of 2018 can be sent in under one or more of AWDF’s thematic areas as listed below. These frame AWDF’s current funding strategy Shaping Africa’s Future;
- Body & Health Rights
The focus for this grantmaking round will be on ending violence against women; sexual and reproductive rights including HIV/AIDS; LBT rights; women’s emotional wellbeing and mental health including for women human rights defenders.
- Economic Security & Justice
The focus for this grantmaking round will be on land, property and inheritance rights; food sovereignty and women’s rights in contexts of food production and agriculture; climate and environmental justice; women’s economic security and livelihoods.
- Leadership, Participation & Peace
The focus for this grantmaking round will be on women’s participation in governance and decision-making, including elections; peace and security; defending democratic space and women human rights defenders; building women’s leadership.
AWDF is particularly interested in projects working with young women, women facing multiple discrimination, and approaches that include engaging the arts, culture, sports and technology.
AWDF is looking for innovative and effective projects that address the needs of and involve the women and communities most affected by inequality and injustice in the leadership and implementation of projects.
AWDF particularly encourages women’s rights organisations registered and working in the following countries to apply:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Applications are due 7 March 2018.
Grant Size & Period
Applicants may apply for up to US$50,000 for a one-year grant. Please note that most grants awarded are likely to be lower than the maximum.
Organisations can apply for an amount which is not more than half of their confirmed income as evident in their last audited statement.
Decisions on grants will be announced by June 2018.
Eligibility Criteria
The basic qualifying criteria for applying organisations are as follows:
- Must be led by a woman and have majority of its staff and board being women
- Must be duly registered in an African country
- Must have been in existence for at least 3 years
- Must have the needed organisational structures for effective implementation of the project
- Must have an appreciable financial management system to properly account for funds received
- Must be capable of reporting back on the outcomes of the project
- Must complete the necessary application forms
Please note that AWDF does NOT fund men-led organisations; political parties or campaigning; government agencies; individuals; scholarships; for-profit initiatives and projects aimed at religious conversion or proselytizing.
How to Apply
Interested women’s rights organisations should send in their proposals via email to awdf@awdf.org using the required application guidelines and forms below. The applicant must also complete and include a financial management assessment form and a budget.
NOTE: Please note that only successful applicants will be contacted.
GUIDELINE AND FORMS:
LAGOS, NIGERIA – Africa’s largest philanthropy supporting entrepreneurship – The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is now accepting applications for business ideas that can transform Africa.
To apply, complete the online application at application.tonyelumelufoundation.org. The deadline is midnight (WAT) on 1 March 2018.
The Programme provides critical tools for business success, including:
- Training:12 weeks of intensive online training which guides creating and managing a business
- Mentoring:A world-class mentor to guide during the early transformation stages of the business
- Funding:$5,000* in seed capital to prove the concept, plus access to further funding
- Network:Access to the largest network of African start-ups and TEF’s own global contacts
The Programme, in its 4th cycle, is TEF’s 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.
TEF Founder, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, CON said:
“When we launched the TEF Programme and committed $100 million to empowering Africa’s entrepreneurs, I knew we would create impact, but I never imagined it would be impact of this magnitude. We have unleashed a movement of African entrepreneurs — a force so strong, so inspiring, that I am confident they will collectively transform Africa. We need Africa’s best and brightest entrepreneurs to come learn, grow their businesses and build our continent.”
1,000 entrepreneurs will be selected based on the viability of their idea, including: market opportunity; financial understanding; scalability; and leadership and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated in the application.
Eligibility:
- The business must be based in Africa
- The business must be for profit
- The business must be 0-3 years old
- Applicants must be at least 18 and a legal resident or citizen of an African country
For more information or to apply, visit: http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/about-tef/application-process/
The Africa Region of the World Bank Group (WBG) invites Ph.D. students and recent graduates who are Sub-Saharan nationals to apply for the third Africa Fellowship Program by November 19, 2017.
The World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program aims to build a pipeline of Sub-Saharan African researchers and professionals, particularly women, who are interested in working in the development field at home or abroad, and in starting careers with the WBG.
Fellows will spend a minimum of six months at the World Bank offices in Washington, D.C. or in field offices, getting hands-on experience in development work. This includes knowledge generation and dissemination, design of global and country policies, and the building of institutions to achieve inclusive growth in developing countries. While benefitting from research and innovation in multiple sectors, fellows will also work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the World Bank goal of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity.
This year, thanks to a generous contribution from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), there are 10 additional fellowship positions with a special focus on forced displacement. The 10 selected fellows will work on forced displacement research in the context of operations led by the World Bank Group (WBG) or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or the Middle East. For these additional 10 positions, candidates from refugee and internally displaced communities and/or with proven experience on forced displacement will be given a priority.
Fellows will be expected to complete a research project or prepare a research paper to present to staff. High-standard papers may be published internally. Specifically, selected participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the World Bank Group's mission and operations
- Access quality data for their research work
- Interact with seasoned experts in the field of development
- Contribute to the World Bank Group's mission
Apply online through the World Bank website by November 19, 2017.
International travel to Africa is expected to reach 18.6 million this year, thanks to the popularity of destinations like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius and Tanzania, which account for 70 percent of international trips to the Sub-Saharan region. That figure marks a nearly 7 percent increase compared to 2012, when international arrivals topped out at 16.35 million, reports international market research group Euromonitor. Analysts attribute the growth over the last five years to increased digital integration and cyber connectivity; alliances between hotels, airlines and car rental companies; social media; meta-search engines; the short-term vacation rental market; luxury travel; and niche tourism.
"Many countries are moving away from only promoting Africa as a traditional safari destination, exploring other niche categories such as beach and medical tourism. The travel and tourism market continues to introduce products that suit different type of travellers, accounting for strong growth in major cities across Sub-Saharan Africa," said Euromonitor Research Analyst Christy Tawii.
Safaris aside, visitors are also travelling to the region to visit South African vineyards, for example, catch a wave off the coast and bask on its beaches. By 2022, Euromonitor predicts that growth in international arrivals to Sub-Saharan Africa will reach 25 million, thanks to competitive rates, aggressive marketing campaigns and improved air connectivity connecting the region with major markets overseas. This will be especially true for South Africa and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, an earlier report by Euromonitor also forecast the fastest-growing cities in Africa for 2017, with Kenya leading the charge. Here are the cities to watch out for:
1. Kisumu, Kenya
2. Eldoret, Kenya
3. Nairobi, Kenya
4. Mombasa, Kenya
5. Nakuru, Kenya
6. Tangier, Morocco
7. Agadir, Morocco
8. Abuja, Nigeria
9. Yaoundé, Cameroon
10. Mansoura, Egypt
Source: News18.com
The second edition of the annual Africa 2017, a high-level forum offering participants an unparalleled platform for promoting trade and investment within Africa, will take place on December 7-9, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the organizers announced yesterday. This year’s event will kick-off with a Young Entrepreneurs Day (YED), which will bring together emerging and established entrepreneurs, business mentors, startup hubs, angel investors and venture capital firms to share ideas, network and help drive further the “business ideas of tomorrow”. The three-day conference will discuss key issues like policy reforms to improve business and investment climate, among others.
- The forum will attract business leaders and policy-makers from across Africa and worldwide, including Heads of State, the statement
- The forum seeks to stimulate investments into the continent and especially cross-border investments.
- This forum will enhance the economic and cultural integration of Africa and to spur investment into what is still one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
- The forum will be an unparalleled occasion to gather the architects of Africa’s future and drive further the transformative investment projects of tomorrow
Source: New Times
An Israeli company will oversee $1 billion worth of solar field projects in Africa, harnessing the power of the sun, even as Israel itself struggles to bring its own plans for large solar fields online. The massive deal to install the solar panels is part of an agreement that came out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Liberia to attend the Economic Community of West African States on Sunday.
Jerusalem-based Energiya Global’s deal will start with a $20 million solar field next to Liberia’s main airport producing 10 megawatts of power, and eventually expand to other ECOWAS countries, though further fields are still in the preliminary planning stages. Energiya Global CEO Yossi Abramowitz, who was in Liberia with Netanyahu and was part of Israel’s negotiating team for the COP21 Paris Climate Accords, said Israel’s legacy of bureaucracy and its struggling infrastructure mean that the deals Energiya Global is inking with African countries will put those countries ahead of Israel in terms of percentage of renewable energy consumption. Read more
Theresa May has moved to quash speculation that the government could drop its pledge to spend 0.7% of national income a year on foreign aid, saying the commitment “remains and will remain”. After days of speculation that the policy would be watered down, the prime minister said Britain should be proud of meeting the UN-backed target, but stressed the need to spend the money more effectively. “Let’s be clear, the 0.7% commitment remains and will remain,” she said during a factory visit in her Maidenhead constituency. “What we need to do, though, is to look at how that money will be spent and make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way. Read more
Mr Doto James, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and H.E. Roeland van de Geer, Head of the European Union Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community, today have signed the Financing Agreement for a new budget support programme worth EUR 205 million (equivalent to TZS 486.9 billion). This is part of € 626 million grant [equivalent to TZS 1.5 trillion] that EU has allocated to Tanzania under the 11th EDF for the period 2014 – 2020 to support government budget as well as energy and sustainable agriculture sectors.
The "Tanzania Economic and Fiscal Governance Programme" will contribute to the effective implementation of the Second Five Year Development Plan (FYDP-II) of the United Republic of Tanzania (2016/2017-2020/2021), by providing direct financial support to the budget and ensuring that the necessary fiscal policies (i.e. policies in Domestic Revenue Mobilization, Public Expenditure Management and Accountability of public funds) are adopted and followed-through. Read more
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