At this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba, Small tech-savvy businesses with technology innovative solutions formed part of the exhibiting businesses to international and local buyers, delegates from Africa and the world to offer solutions that are tech-driven in order to assist travel trade entities and individuals manage travel needs, through technology innovation.
The SMME’s are part of the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Technology Grassroots Innovation Incubator Programme (TTGIIP) in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), which an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
The main aim of the initiative is to spearhead concepts that will stimulate the growth and recovery of the tourism sector
The twenty (20) tech-savvy entrepreneurs, between the ages of 18 and 35, were selected to begin a two-year journey in tourism’s incubator programme to advance the design and business viability of their prototypes. Once finalised, the innovations will be introduced to the sector and potential investors for funding, implementation, or as resources for new ventures and new business entrants in tourism.
Amongst the nine tech-savvy businesses that got to showcase their solutions is Dominic Naidoo 28, owner of Guide connect is a web and mobile application for contacting registered, qualified South African tour guides with domestic and international tourists. The software and application would allow tourists to search for qualified tour guides, drivers and tour transportation services within the preselected region. Tourists will be able to book a guide based on criteria such as experience, qualification, tours and specialities. The software and application will enable payment via the software.
Titus Khoza 29 is the founder Destination insight, an innovation is a one-stip online booking platform for all vacations needs arranging from attractions, accommodations, flights, car hire travel insurance and catering. Travellers will have the ability to customize their ideal trips based on the total amount of the trip ( total cost will include attractions, accommodation and catering). Through the platform, travellers will have the ability to contribute monthly payments towards the total cost of their ideal trip/vacation. Once the total funds are paid out, the platform will issue out tickets to the travellers.
Kyle Brijder 28, owner of GIDO, which is a mobile and web-based application that enables a traveller to create and book a tour in under five minutes while providing equal work opportunities for freelance tour guides. On signing up, the traveller selects their preferred language and their interests. The App will provide the traveller with tour rates most applicable to their profile. Travellers will select the option of a default tour itenerary or create their own, select a date and group size. The App uses an algorithm to create a list of unavailable freelance tour guides based on the traveller profile.