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UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge: 7 Projects to Transform Tourism

September 24, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Climats du Monde

The Sommet Education Foundation and Les Roches unveil the seven finalists of the UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge, a competition designed to back innovative projects that contribute to making tourism more sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial for local communities.

Launched in September 2025, the challenge drew 866 applications from 109 countries.

Nearly half of the submitted projects originated from Africa, illustrating the continent’s entrepreneurial dynamism in the tourism sector.

The seven selected projects are spread across three categories: community tourism, environment, accessibility and inclusion.

Solutions to Strengthen Local Tourism

In the category dedicated to community tourism, three initiatives were singled out.

In China, Lore leverages artificial intelligence to help safeguard traditional crafts and connect travelers with local communities through immersive cultural experiences.

In India, Local Narratives brings together travelers, students and rural communities through experiences that foster learning and local entrepreneurship.

In Tanzania, Ecodigital combines digital tools with community knowledge to support ecosystem restoration, climate resilience and the development of sustainable tourism.

Circular Economy and Regenerative Tourism in the Spotlight

Two projects were selected in the environmental category.

In Ghana, Okumkom Biodigital Investment converts organic waste produced by hotels and restaurants into proteins and organic fertilizers. The aim is to create a closed loop linking the hospitality and agricultural sectors.

In Brazil, Bio Fábrica de Corais relies on biotechnologies and regenerative tourism to contribute to the restoration of coral reefs, while raising awareness among visitors and communities about protecting marine ecosystems.

The third category focuses on accessibility and inclusion, featuring two projects that notably use artificial intelligence.

In Kenya, Signvrse develops 3D avatars capable of providing real-time sign-language interpretation to facilitate exchanges with Deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers.

In Portugal, Your Accessible Flight employs AI to assist travelers with disabilities during their air travel. The solution also provides airlines and airports with digital tools to enhance their accessibility services.

Support to Accelerate the Projects

Partner of the competition, Les Roches Marbella will mentor the seven laureates through on-campus training and access to its international network dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation.

The goal is to equip project leaders with enhanced skills, broaden their networks, and speed up the deployment of solutions that address the social and environmental challenges facing tourism.

Published by Amelia Brille Editor, TourMaG.com
See all articles by Amelia Brille

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Are Extreme Travel Experiences the New Social Media Trend?

August 8, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Crossing Iran by bike, hitchhiking across South America, or linking Russia and Portugal by running… Social networks are now filled with content creators sharing their extraordinary travel projects. Among them is Ian Andersen, an American who crossed the Iranian border by bicycle as part of a 16,000-kilometer journey from Portugal to Japan. In June 2025, the young man shares videos of his crossing in a country that the United States does not recommend traveling to.

On June 13, Israeli strikes against Iranian sites upended his itinerary. The cyclist found himself alone, his guide no longer able to guarantee his safety, and he eventually left the country via Azerbaijan with the help of an assistance program. “I knew the risks and I still went,” he told the New York Times, which looked at the dangers of the popularization of these extreme travelers.

@ridewithian

Huge thanks to my friend @lavenam for helping me get an Azerbaijani visa—and to the U.S. Embassy in Baku for the emergency green light to enter the country. I’m out, and truly grateful for all your prayers, messages, and support. It’s an honor to have you following this journey and caring about my wellbeing out here in the Middle East. The most harrowing part of the day was the exit interviews with Iranian officials at the border. No footage of that (for obvious reasons) but I’ll write more about it soon on Substack if you’re curious. And finally, to my Iranian guide Reza—there’s no one I’d rather have had by my side. I’m out—but the conflict is just beginning. I’ll be keeping normal Iranians and Israelis in my thoughts. Especially the younger generation of Iran, who keep paying the price for decisions made by their fathers and grandfathers. There’s a phrase in Persian that roughly means: “the forgotten generation.” That feels true. The journey continues soon. Thank you again. -Ian Fast facts: Total distance: ~10,000 miles (16,000 km) Key gear: stove, tent, patch kit, cigs Today’s distance ridden: 0 miles (0 km) Total distance ridden: 4,328 miles (6,980 km) Currently in: Astara, Azerbaijan

♬ original sound – Ian Andersen – Ian Andersen

Bold travelers despite warnings from their governments

For safety experts, these expeditions pose dangers that go beyond adventure sports. In some countries, travelers also expose themselves to risks of arbitrary arrest, surveillance, searches of their electronic devices, or espionage charges. Medical evacuation, when possible, can cost hundreds of thousands of euros. For certain parts of the world, the United States even goes so far as to advise travelers to provide a DNA sample, or even to draft a will.

Yet these warnings do not seem to deter some travelers questioned by our American counterparts. Some argue that official advisories reflect primarily a government approach to safety and that simply respecting the laws and the locals is enough to limit risks. They also stress that they obtained the necessary visas before departure.

A travel trend that glosses over reality

Authorities, however, remind that a positive testimonial on social media never guarantees safety. “Alert levels reflect real cases. We work with the families of people arbitrarily detained. It can break lives”, remarks a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department. The main issue lies not only in the adventure itself, but in the image it projects on social media. According to neuroscientist Jay Van Bavel, internet users eventually identify with the creator.

They then feel that this type of journey seems more accessible than it really is. American authorities thus remind that travel advisories are based on real situations and not on hypothetical scenarios. They warn against the lure of trusting accounts from content creators claiming that “everything went smoothly”, while their services sometimes have very limited means to intervene in countries rated at the maximum alert level.

Sunscreen Misinformation: False Claims Flood Social Media

June 23, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

As holiday season approaches, a study warns against the spread of misinformation about sunscreen on the social network TikTok. While the vast majority of videos encourage sun protection during a city stroll or a beach swim, a handful of contentions argue the opposite—that these products would be dangerous for health or unnecessary. If these posts are few, they provoke far more reactions from internet users than others. At times cautious, at times outraged, or, more seriously, tempted to drop these protections from their summer routine.

Nearly 1,000 videos published on the platform in 2024 about sunscreen were analyzed by a group of researchers, with the Washington Post taking up the story on Saturday, June 20. About 87% of them promoted it, nearly a third recalled the importance of applying it “a sufficient amount”, 42 videos were shared between recommendations and criticisms, and 16 videos prohibited its use. And it was precisely this last category of content that received “many more comments, likes and shares”, note the study’s authors.

False Advice, Real Lies

The most viral TikTok messages claim that sunscreens would be toxic, contain carcinogenic substances, or prevent enjoying the sun’s benefits. Others say it would be better to tan without protection or to use alternatives like beef tallow. “Deceptive and provocative ideas, for example that sunscreen is useless or harmful, incorporate elements of novelty, shock and conspiracy theories that provoke emotions and increase their viral potential”, notes the scientific report.

Fearing the proliferation of these “hoaxes”, health professionals insist in unison that they rest on no scientific basis and that prolonged exposure without protection, which absorbs or reflects ultraviolet rays, greatly increases the risk of skin cancer. In short, “you are harming yourself intentionally”, explains Adam Friedman, professor and head of the dermatology department at George Washington University, who did not participate in the study.

TikTok Calls on Moderators

Experts acknowledge that the sun helps the body produce vitamin D, but that does not justify giving up proper protection. Yet, “some audiences are very attracted to this type of information”, regrets Alessandro Marcon, a researcher at the Health Law Institute of the University of Alberta and co-author of the study.

For its part, TikTok reiterates that its policy bans health misinformation and says it is actively pursuing the implicated content to remove it. The challenge now is to better inform travelers and vacationers, as skin cancers continue to rise.