Johannesburg has welcomed leaders from across Africa to the inauguration of the 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit & Challenge, held from 24 to 27 June 2025. Organised by Africa Tourism Partners in collaboration with UN Tourism and BDO, the summit brings together youth, SMEs, investors, policymakers, and tourism professionals to explore how innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship can drive sectoral growth.
The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit & Challenge is a flagship pan-African platform dedicated to empowering young people and early-stage innovators in tourism, hospitality, and related industries. Since its inception in 2018, it has served as a space for knowledge exchange, project incubation, mentorship, and business matchmaking. Its core component, the Innovation Challenge, rewards youth-led initiatives that show originality, market relevance, and potential for scalability within the tourism value chain.
Representing Hon. Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Dr. Sipho Ngomane, Chief Director for HR Development at the Department of Tourism, delivered the opening keynote. He noted that tourism’s projected growth to 8.9%, and possibly beyond 10% by 2030, must translate into tangible job opportunities for youth. Highlighting that “by 2030, 42% of the world’s youth will be African,” he urged the sector to recognise and harness this demographic moment. He added that tourism must evolve from leisure to a “strategic platform for innovation, skills development, digital transformation, and inclusive entrepreneurship.”
Dr. Ngomane also reflected on recent policy developments, referencing the 68th Commission for Africa Summit in Abuja and noting the G20 presidency’s emphasis on solidarity, equality, and sustainability. He announced the launch of a tourismAI hackathon with 18 institutions, as well as a series of youth initiatives from vocational programmes and culinary training to tourism safety monitors and career expos aimed at equipping young people with the tools to transition from job seekers to innovators.
In a video address, Elcia Grandcourt, UN Tourism’s Director for Africa, praised South Africa’s pivotal role in hosting and commended Africa Tourism Partners for their “tireless work… elevating visibility and policy relevance of tourism, cultural and creative industries.” She emphasised that the summit, now in its seventh year, has empowered over 4,000 young people and launched startups that are now entering global markets.
Adding to the international solidarity, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, H.E. Zurab Pololikashvili, described the event as “a vital innovation summit” and congratulated all stakeholders for their continued support. “UN Tourism stands with you and we believe youth-led innovation is key to growth and inclusive development,” he said in his video message. He highlighted that the summit “has supported over 4,000 young people, launched startups, built networks, and helped youth pitch ideas to global markets.” He also underscored that such efforts align with UN Tourism’s agenda focused on “people, planet, and prosperity.”
H.E. Ambassador Albertus Aochamub, speaking on behalf of Namibia, the summit’s previous host, affirmed that “our youth are the miracle… architects of a new African future.” He praised the summit as more than symbolic, choosing words like “transformational” and “a platform for selfactualisation and storytelling.”
Also addressing the gathering, Kwakye Donkor, CEO of Africa Tourism Partners, acknowledged the presence and contribution of partners from South African Tourism, AfCFTA, and Namibia. He praised the resilience of young participants, urged them to move beyond networking and encouraged real-world application of ideas in their communities.
Participants engaged in a series of high-level panel discussions and masterclasses aimed at equipping Africa’s youth and tourism stakeholders with practical knowledge and insights. Key sessions included Ministerial and Industry Leaders Dialogue on community engagement and inclusive tourism, which examined how tourism clusters can function as commercial villages to promote youth and women employment. Beyond the Cockpit explored diverse career pathways in aviation beyond piloting, while the MICE and Business Events Masterclass showcased African case studies on building financially sustainable events. Other panels focused on future-proofing creative enterprises, with discussions on Copyright, Trademarks, and Patents as financial assets for intellectual property protection. Practical sessions such as Capital Raisingprovided guidance on attracting investment and understanding the nuances of financing for startups and accelerators, particularly in the tourism and cultural sectors.
As the 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit & Challenge unfolds, its role as a continental catalyst becomes increasingly evident, not just as a platform for discussion, but as an incubator for ideas that can reshape Africa’s tourism and innovation landscape.
