Characteristics of Indigenous Tourism Projects

Projects should include activities that promote ancestral cultures such as rituals and spiritual ceremonies, learning traditional knowledge, exploring historical sites and connecting with nature, in addition to strengthening the role of tourism in solving local issues and promoting sustainability.

Verticals:

• Economic empowerment of indigenous communities. Initiatives that promote the development of local capacities, offering communities the tools and knowledge necessary to manage and benefit directly from tourism in their territories.
• Preservation and revitalization of traditions. Projects that support the preservation of languages, safeguarding of different cultural and artistic practices, rituals and indigenous traditions through tourism experiences that directly involve the communities in their planning, management and execution.
• Promotion of local gastronomy. Projects that highlight and promote local culinary traditions as an integral part of the tourism experience, providing support to local producers and markets.
• Development of indigenous tourism at the community level. Initiatives that promote community-led and community-managed tourism, focusing on equitable practices and respecting the autonomy of communities to define the presentation of their culture and the nature of their interaction with visiting tourists.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Generation of positive community impact and social value

• The project proposes activities to foster the development of both technical and interpersonal skills in the indigenous territories, supporting their personal and professional growth.
• The project proposes activities to increase the local employability of the communities that meet diversity, inclusion and gender characteristics.
• The project proposes activities to increase the income of local families and entrepreneurs through their full participation in the project's value chain.
• The project proposes activities to reduce the vulnerability of the territory to events caused by climate change.

2. Preservation of cultural capital

• The project proposes activities for the preservation of indigenous cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible (indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant communities).

3. Preservation

• The project proposes activities for the preservation of ethnic cultural heritage (indigenous peoples).

4. Generation of positive impact on the natural environment.

• The project proposes activities for the conservation of protected areas.
• The project proposes activities for the regeneration of ecosystems and their biodiversity.
• The project proposes activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example by offsetting the carbon footprint of tourists.
• The project contemplates the generation of positive impact reports on the environment.

5. Project Innovation

• The project proposes innovative elements that seek to generate a transformative experience for tourists.
• The project proposes innovative elements that provide competitive advantages in the proposal in the short or medium term.
• The project proposes the incorporation of the Region Brand in the dissemination and promotion of the project.

6. Budgetary Feasibility

• The projected budget for the use of the award resources is consistent with the proposed activities.
• Cost Efficiency Analysis
• Analysis of direct and indirect costs
• Risks of the proposal.

Benefits for finalists

Finalists will receive mentoring, access to networks and scholarships, opportunities to present their projects at high-level events, and the possibility of receiving investment. The winner will receive a prize of USD 10,000 and accompaniment during the implementation of their project. Specifically:

• Opportunity to present their solution at the UN Tourism Tech Adventures: Tursmo Indígena.
• USD 10,000 investment offered by CAF for the winner
• Mentoring and support from UN Tourism and top-tier partners
• Customized business support
• Scholarship opportunities for the UN Tourism Online Academy
• Membership in the UN Tourism Innovation Network through which they will have ongoing support and opportunities to participate in UN Tourism projects and events.

Eligibility Requirements

Entrepreneurs and startups, with a maximum of three years from the date of commencement of operations or legal incorporation, who meet the following requirements, may apply:

Eligible Projects for indigenous tourism must have the following characteristics adapted to their specific context:

• Innovation and Cultural Value: Projects must be innovative and disruptive, offering solutions that bring added value to the tourism sector, respecting and promoting indigenous cultures and additionally the incorporation of the Region Brand in the Project.
• Integration of Appropriate Technologies: They must take advantage of new technologies and innovative solutions that are appropriate and respectful of the practices and cultural environment of indigenous peoples, avoiding impositions that alter their traditional way of life.
• Positive and Measurable Impact: It is essential that projects can offer specific positive impact indicators for indigenous peoples, such as improvements in community autonomy, conservation of cultural heritage, or direct economic benefits.
• Growth Potential and Scalability: Projects must demonstrate growth potential and the ability to be scaled up or replicated in other regions or indigenous peoples, expanding their impact without compromising cultural integrity.
• Maturity Level: The proposal must include a cost-effective analysis, including direct and indirect costs, expected outcomes and risks of the proposal (e.g. unstable demand).

Key Dates

• Launch and Promotion: January 30, 2025
• Application: By April 30, 2025
• Semifinalist Selection: June 1 to July 30, 2025
• Semifinalist Advising: August 1 to August 15, 2025
• Selection of Finalists: August 15 - August 30, 2025
• Proclamation of Finalists: Fall 2025
• Final Pitch and Proclamation of Winner: To be confirmed