Smartphone app Runnin’City has been named the winner of the 1st United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Sports Tourism Start-up Competition.
Launched in partnership with the Barca Innovation Hub and supported by the Qatar National Tourism Council, the competition saw hundreds of start-ups enter.
Five companies – Runnin’City; Fly-Foot; Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-free Institute; Oevit; and WeFish – were then shortlisted for the final.
In October, the five finalists took centre stage at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau, with the first SportsTech edition of the WTO’s Tourism Tech Adventures initiative celebrating the most disruptive ideas and innovators from around the world.
Within the framework of the Forum, the five finalists were invited to Macau for a special masterclass on pitching and attracting investment. They faced-off in a “start-up battlefield” following sessions focused on the future of sports tourism and the potential for disruptive technologies to create value for tourism.
Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO general-secretary, said: “Tourism and sport create decent jobs, promote local culture and provide opportunities for SMEs and entrepreneurs.
“Sports tourism can also contribute to creating peace, sustainability and inclusiveness, building bridges between different countries and cultures.
“UNWTO welcomes innovation in this niche sector and congratulates all finalists on their vision and determination.”
About the five finalists
Runnin’City (Belgium) – winner
A smartphone app that allows users to discover more than 200 cities around the world while running or walking. See runnin.city
Fly-Foot (Lebanon)
Fly-Foot is the first online platform where football fans can book all-inclusive travel packages to watch their favourite teams play with just a few clicks. See fly-foot.com
Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-free Institute (Japan)
A travel agency specialised in adapting travel and sports to individuals with limited mobility to increase social inclusion. See npo.kamui-daisetsu.org
Oevit (USA)
One-stop-shop solution for experience ecosystems. Oveit combines near field communication and biometric payments, audience engagement, loyalty programs, access control, registration and (e)ticketing. See oveit.com
WeFish (Spain)
Offers a fishing application which is interactive, simple and social – developed by fishers for fishers. See wefish.app