Africa Tourism Partners has announced the top five finalists for the 6^th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge 2024.

The Challenge opened on November 1, 2023, for the youth to submit their projects.

It was closed on March 1, this year and has so far attracted over 154 entries from innovators across Africa.

As part of the process, the projects were submitted to the judges for adjudication to determine the qualifying projects.

Devin Itaagie – Uganda, Kedumetse Liphi – Botswana, Joseph Owiredu – Ghana, Ajena Jafar – Uganda and Gerald Muema – Kenya qualified to proceed to the next level of adjudication.

The shortlisted innovators will present their demo/ Minimum Viable Product at the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit scheduled for 28 to 31 May 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia.

Namibian innovators were also recognised and allowed to compete amongst themselves. Sarome Natalia Nalooliwa Hamata, Sarah Anghuwo and Rosalia Laudika are the top 3 finalists for the 2024 and 6^th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation challenge.

The countries that participated in the Innovation Challenge include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge is an exclusive platform being provided to innovative African youth in travel and tourism looking for funding, partnership and mentorship opportunities to present their projects to the global marketplace.

Hosted by the Government of Namibia through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in collaboration with Africa Tourism Partners, UN Tourism, BDO and other partners, the 2024 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit is scheduled for 28 to 31 May 2024.

Speakers for this year’s Summit include Teofilus Nghitila - Executive Director of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia, Samiya Abdulkadir Godu - President, Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association, Evah Mosetlhane - Tourism & SMME Development Consultant, Botswana, Mbali Mngomezulu - Manager Of Business Development @ Mastercard | Grading Assessor Accreditation CATHSETA, South Africa and more.

Meanwhile, Namibia is ready to showcase herself to the visitors and take them through some breathtaking moments. One of the greatest attractions that Namibia boasts about is the Sossusvlei desert.

Sossusvlei is all salt, clay, and sand, with remarkable red dunes arching and curling seemingly forever. The popular tourist attraction is in the southern part of the Namib Desert and is part of the Namib Sand Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These dunes are among the highest in the world.