Berlin-based entrepreneur support company, enpact, and the TUI Care Foundation have announced the start of a joint Tourism Recovery Programme which will support young founders in the travel and tourism industry.

Applications are open until June 20 for micro, small, and medium-sized tourism enterprises in Egypt, Mexico, South Africa and Kenya.

The Tourism Recovery Programme is designed to support innovative tourism businesses on their path of economic recovery.

A joint press release from the two companies highlights that the future of tourism depends on resilient tourism businesses offering sustainable products and services, particularly in developing and emerging economies.

With the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at its core, the Tourism Recovery Programme builds capacity around leadership, resilience, sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation. Additionally, the aim is to create a flourishing international network of tourism businesses.

Under the six-month programme, participating businesses will have the opportunity to gain access to dedicated mentoring, business development training and financial support from the German government.

The mentoring programme provides tailored guidance through individual sessions with TUI experts and other global tourism professionals.

Alongside this, the technical assistance component includes a virtual learning programme, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, networking opportunities and support for participants in developing an internationalisation plan. The support package draws on the experience of the earlier COVID-19 Relief Programme for Tourism, where 352 participants from 150 tourism businesses from Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia and Jordan have already benefited from the same opportunity.

The Tourism Recovery Programme aims to empower travel and tourism businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the four target countries and which demonstrate a technologically, socially or environmentally innovative business model.

Companies with existing ties to the German and European tourism sector or a commitment to expand are particularly relevant for the support provided by this programme.

Eligible candidates can access the application procedure for the Tourism Recovery Programme on the TUI Care Foundation or enpact homepages.