The 2024 edition of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (AYTIS) commenced at Windhoek, Namibia on Tuesday.
The three-day event, which was the sixth edition of the AYTIS, started with an Entrepreneurship Masterclass and Intra-Africa Trading Day.
AYTIS is an exclusive platform provided to innovative African youth in travel and tourism looking for funding, partnership and mentorship opportunities.
Its essence was for the youth tourism enthusiasts to present their projects to the global marketplace to find the required support for their projects.
AYTIS has remained the “one and only” pan-Africa Youth and Start-up in Tourism Summit on the continent, serving as a pan-African platform for youth and start ups in tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation, academia and related industries to connect, engage, learn, innovate and grow.
In her welcome remarks, Deputy Executive Director, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Namibia, Seimy Christoph-Shidute, noted that the Masterclass marked a momentum occasion.
She said it was a celebration of youth leadership, innovation, and commitment to building and developing Africa into a vibrant and self-sufficient economy.
“This Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and intra-Africa trading underscores the pivotal role that the youth must play in shaping innovation, enterprise and industrial development and ultimately economic growth considering that out continent is richly blessed with natural resources,” she noted.
According to her, youth, constituting about 65 per cent of Africa’s population, are recognised throughout history for their enthusiasm, innovativeness and energy.
Christoph-Shidute added that “still, actual youth involvement in entrepreneurship and business needs to improve, despite this recognition.
“As government, we equally recognise and wish you to address the challenges faced by our young people on the continent.
“The digital revolution, while promising, comes with its own set of barriers.
“Lack of access to diverse and local funding sources, limited representation, and the need for skills development are challenges we must overcome to ensure sustainable growth for young innovators and researchers.”
Also marking the kick-off of the 6th edition of the AYTIS was Entrepreneurship and Change-Makers School- Global Insights and Learning About the Journey of Ideation to Capital Raising.
It was virtually handled by the Senior Programme Manager, Intrapreneurship L Marks, United Kingdom, Intrapreneurship Dan’Souza.
The Manager For Investment, Attraction, Namibia Investment, Promotion and Development Board NIPOB), Selma Amutuwa, took participants through the travel, tourism and other investment opportunities in Namibia.
Chief Executive Officer, CPL Events, Portugal, Dr. Linda Pereira, enlightened participants about “Becoming An African-Based Globally-Recognised MICE Professional: The Journey, Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities.”
The event also gave participants at the 2024 edition of the AYTIS the luxury of networking opportunities.
