ESWATNI TOURISM E30 000 GRAND PRIZE APP COMPETITION LAUNCHED

BY KWANELE TSABEDZE

MBABANE – Young people in the innovation of Information and Communication Technology sector have an opportunity to develop the country’s main Tourism App. 

In fact, young Innovators are invited to participate in the competition to develop the country’s main digital application to make it easier to tour the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The App is supposed to make traveling to and within Eswatini much easier by providing tourist destinations, hospitality services, and special events happening around the country in the palm of each person. The information centre will also provide additional services like currency conversions, weather updates, special offers from tourist attractions, as well as safety and emergency services information. 

The E30 000 prize competition to develop the app has the following conditions to enter; 

The competition is open to startups and teams of 1 to 5 that can offer innovative and viable solutions addressing the destination mobile app gap. 

• All participants must be 18 years or older (18+) on the close date of the competition. 

• Non-Swati nationals with permanent residency. 
• Applicants must be owners of the innovation’s related intellectual property rights.
• The challenge is not open to ETA/ RSTP and partners’ staff members and their immediate family members.

Vumile Dlamini, the Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Science and Technology Park as well as Mark Ward, Chairman of the Eswatini Tourism Authority launched the competition at an event with stakeholders on Tuesday, September 14.

The stakeholders included members of the hospitality industry, tourism, and the ICT startup sectors. The competition was launched just in time for World Tourism Day, which Eswatini is also celebrating. 

Both CEO’s highlighted the importance of developing a robust and veritable digital information centre for the country, and encouraged innovators to be creative in incorporating the latest developments in the ICT field. They also mentioned that in addition to the E30 000 grand prize, the winning team will get a contract to maintain the system for the Eswatini Tourism Authority, going forward. 

Speaking on behalf of the hospitality industry association, Mike Ward encouraged innovators to visit tourist destinations and hotels, to actually find out what digital functionalities might add value to the industry. Innovators have until the 4th of October to submit their ideas and prepare prototypes for the competition. More information can be found on the Royal Science and Technology Park website.