UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge 2025 – Empowering Sustainable, Inclusive & Green Solutions for Social Impact

The UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge, launched by UN Tourism in partnership with Sommet Education Foundation, Les Roches, Plug and Play, and TORNUS Agency, is a global call for startups, scaleups, and innovators in the tourism sector. The goal is to support solutions that are sustainable, inclusive, and green—especially those that generate social impact.

This initiative invites participants to tackle critical issues in tourism, such as environmental degradation, social exclusion, and lack of access, by innovating with community-based, accessible, or environmentally restorative models.

Key Categories & Themes

The Challenge focuses on three main categories:

1. Community-based Tourism
   Solutions that empower local communities—preserving culture, involving locals in tourism value chains, boosting entrepreneurship.
2. Inclusivity & Accessibility
   Innovations that make tourism more accessible to people with disabilities, seniors, or others with special needs; universal design; inclusive services.
3. Green Projects
   Projects reducing environmental impact, supporting circular economy models, reducing mass tourism damage, and applying eco-friendly technologies or practices.

Benefits for Selected Participants

If you are selected as a finalist or winner, here’s what you can expect to gain:

• Full scholarships (up to six) from Sommet Education Foundation for hospitality and hotel management programs at Les Roches, Marbella Campus (9–12 months)
• Pitching opportunity at UN Tourism Demo Day and connections to a global network of over 90 investors and top corporations in 160+ countries
• Access to mentorship via the UN Tourism Innovation Network
• Additional perks such as Plug and Play benefits (access to Silicon Valley Summit, etc.), visibility, and potential pilot projects with partners

Eligibility & Who Can Apply

The competition is open to:

• Startups & scaleups in tourism or related sectors with tech-driven or innovation-driven solutions.
• Projects that have at least a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or are beyond just idea stage.
• Innovations that clearly align with sustainability, inclusivity, or environmental impact under the challenge categories.

Application Deadlines & Timeline

• Deadline to Apply: 8 December 2025
• Start of Challenge: Applications open shortly after launch (Sept 2025)
• Finalists will be notified sometime post-deadline; exact dates depend on the review process.

Why It Matters

• Tourism is a huge part of global GDP and employment; the sector faces challenges from climate change, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. This challenge offers a platform for solutions that address those issues.
• By combining education, innovation, and partnerships, it helps build scalable models that can drive meaningful change.
• For entrepreneurs, this is an opportunity not just for funding or scholarships but for visibility, partnerships, and scaling their impact.