World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is collaborating with World Health Organization (WHO) in launching “Healing Solutions for Tourism”, an innovation challenge to help the tourism sector recover from Covid-19, where millions of jobs are at risk as the pandemic hits hard.

This is a global call for entrepreneurs and innovators to submit ideas that can be implemented immediately in destinations, businesses and public health efforts to help the tourism sector mitigate the impact of the pandemic and kickstart recovery efforts.

Participants should be able to demonstrate how their ideas can help tourism in its response to COVID-19. Ideas must also have been piloted and be ready to scale-up, with a business plan in place and the potential to be implemented in several countries.

UNWTO secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili explains the call to embrace innovation and need for international solidarity: “Tourism is the sector that has been hit the hardest by COVID-19. I call on all entrepreneurs and innovators with ideas that are developed and ready to be put into action to share them with us. In particular, we want to hear ideas that will help communities recover from this crisis, economically and socially, as well as ideas that can contribute to the public health response.”

The competition is now live and applications close on April 10, 2020. Winners will be invited to pitch their ideas to representatives of more than 150 governments and enjoy access to the UNWTO Innovation Network, which includes hundreds of start-ups and leading businesses from across the tourism sector.