ETENA Accelerator: Scaling Tourism Innovation Across Egypt, Tunisia & Morocco

Empowering tourism innovators and the future shapers of rural tourism across Egypt, Tunisia & Morocco


Launched by TUI Care Foundation and enpact, the Empowering Tourism Ecosystems in North Africa (ETENA) programme focuses on supporting 100 aspiring entrepreneurs and 10 startup founders across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco through tailored business development support and funding opportunities. The programme runs through four phases: Idea Marathon, 2-month Pre-incubator, 6-month Incubator, and a regional 3-month Accelerator.

In its accelerator phase, the ETENA programme is designed to support 10 tourism founders, across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, with a 3-month regional experience that includes tailored business training, peer-to-peer exchange, and exposure to regional stakeholders. Participating founders will take part in two startup camps in Egypt, receive mentoring and investor-readiness support, and gain access to a strong cross-border network of tourism experts and partners.

The purpose of the ETENA Accelerator is to equip tourism founders with the tools, knowledge, and regional connections they need to scale their businesses, strengthen their impact on rural tourism, promote authentic local experiences, and contribute to job creation and sustainable development across North Africa.

10 founders – One mission


Sustainable & Scalable Rural Tourism Innovations — Present established solutions that foster authentic, inclusive, and environmentally responsible travel experiences across rural destinations in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. Your startup can strengthen connections between travellers and local communities; broaden access to nature-based and cultural experiences; promote eco-friendly hospitality and mobility; and reinforce community-led value chains—ensuring tourism growth supports livelihoods and protects natural and cultural heritage.

Download this document for more details about the focus areas and eligibility criteria. (1.1 MB PDF)

Applications closed.

How does ETENA Accelerator support you?


Regional startup camps in Egypt

Participate in two intensive, week-long camps designed to accelerate growth, provide strategic insights, expand your cross-country network, and connect you with regional investors and partners.

Dedicated mentoring & coaching

Receive personalised guidance through one-on-one mentoring sessions with experienced tourism and entrepreneurship experts who will support your scale-up journey.

Tailored business training

Get equipped with comprehensive training, delivered online or through hybrid sessions by international experts, to refine your business model, strengthen operations, and build strategies for regional growth.

Workstations in Zamalek

Work with your team from a fully-equipped, serene space at the enpact hub in Zamalek, Cairo, available to you whenever you visit the city. It will be your perfect spot to also meet with peers and experts, exchange ideas and stay inspired.

Meetups & networking events

Get invited regular gatherings to expand your network by connecting with with other founders, tourism stakeholders, and ecosystem leaders across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.

ETENA Accelerator’s Timeline

27 November 2025

Call for applications launches

25 December 2025

Applications close. Selection process starts

Jan 2026

Kick-off bootcamp (Fully-covered)

Jan - March 2026

Mentoring & Workshops

March 2026

Sustainability bootcamp (Fully-covered)

Meet the ETENA Accelerator Participants!


10 Tourism Founders operating businesses that are shaping the future of tourism in Egypt, Morocco & Tunisia — Get to know them:

Mohamed Serag Eldin, Founder of Dayra 

Mohamed is the founder of Dayra, a business designing eco-rooted hospitality spaces and mindful travel experiences that encourage slower, more meaningful exploration. With a background in mechanical engineering and experience working with multinational corporations, Mohamed combines technical thinking with a passion for human-centred design. Through Dayra, he aims to create tourism spaces that foster connection, presence, and sustainability.

Amr El-Sonny, Founder of VAMOS

Amr is a seasoned travel expert and the founder of VAMOS, an eco-tourism business organising hiking expeditions and adventure travel across Egypt and beyond. With over a decade of experience exploring remote landscapes and managing complex expedition logistics, he specialises in designing safe and immersive outdoor experiences. Amr also mentors and trains a new generation of trip leaders, focusing on wilderness leadership, safety protocols, and guest experience in challenging environments. Through VAMOS, he works closely with local communities to promote responsible tourism and expand sustainable eco-tourism across the region.

Sherine Zaghow, PrBa Tourism Services

Sherine is the team lead of PrBa Tourism Services. Together with Kareem and Nevine, they are working on a venture focused on creating authentic cultural experiences in lesser-known destinations, focusing on community connection and intangible heritage rather than traditional antiquities tourism. She brings over 30 years of experience in the development and humanitarian sectors and most recently served as Regional Director for the Middle East at Relief International. In 2025, she received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for her work on the Revitalisation of Historic Esna Project. Through her work, Sherine promotes tourism models that preserve heritage while empowering local communities.

Aziz Aboelazm, Co-Founder of Rove World

Rove World is led by co-founders Aziz Aboelazm and  Mohamed Nabil, together with Maryam Ali. Rove World is a tourism business developing reasonable tourism experiences and cross-border travel programs. As the operations lead, he oversees the complex logistics required to deliver safe, scalable tourism experiences on the ground. Aziz played a key role in expanding the venture internationally, successfully navigating regulatory processes to launch Rove World’s Saudi Arabia operations in 2023. Through his operational leadership, he ensures the company’s tourism model remains practical, sustainable, and ready to scale across new destinations.

Mostafa Sebaq, Founder of El Quseir Hospitality Project

Mostafa is the founder of a hospitality venture in El Quseir offering authentic and affordable stays that connect travellers with the town’s heritage and culture. With years of experience working in civil society and community initiatives, he has been actively involved in supporting local development in the region. Mostafa is deeply committed to showcasing the cultural and historical significance of Egypt’s Red Sea towns. Through his venture, he aims to create tourism opportunities that generate sustainable income for local communities while preserving the character of El Quseir.

Hassan Bolaachoub, Founder of Tour Morocco

Hassan is the founder of Tour Morocco, a travel company dedicated to creating authentic and community-centred tourism experiences across the country. With more than 23 years of experience in tourism, management, and international business, he has worked across the United States, Africa, and the Middle East. His extensive global experience enables him to design travel programs that combine professional standards with deep cultural immersion. Through Tour Morocco, Hassan promotes responsible tourism that supports local communities and sustainable economic development.

Oumayma Belfaqir, Founder of Ecofarm Rural Experiences

Oumayma Belfaqir is the founder of an ecofarm offering immersive rural tourism experiences centred around Moroccan agriculture, cuisine, and traditional lifestyles. With a background in marketing and public sector project management, she brings strategic expertise and strong community engagement skills to her venture. Her work focuses on preserving rural traditions while creating hands-on learning experiences for visitors. Through her ecofarm, Oumayma aims to strengthen rural economies and highlight Morocco’s agricultural and cultural heritage.

Aymen Louhichi, Founder of Tunisia Ecotourism

Aymen is the founder of Tunisia Ecotourism, a sustainable travel operator that combats the overreliance on mass tourism by co-creating low-impact, nature-based experiences in rural regions to empower local communities, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen climate resilience. With extensive experience in sustainable tourism development and community engagement, he has worked to connect conservation efforts with economic opportunities for local populations. Aymen is a strong advocate for responsible tourism that protects ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods. Through Tunisia Ecotourism, he aims to position Tunisia as a leading destination for sustainable and nature-based travel.

Sana Ben Jemaa, Founder of Dowit

Sana Ben Jemaa is the founder of Dowit, a social enterprise promoting Tunisia’s intangible cultural heritage through immersive tourism experiences, connecting travellers with local artisans and intangible heritage through hands-on workshops, guided tours, and treasure hunts. With over a decade of experience in cultural management and social innovation, she works closely with artisans and local communities to preserve traditional knowledge and practices. Her work focuses on creating meaningful encounters between travellers and Tunisia’s living heritage. Through Dowit, Sana supports local creative economies while helping safeguard cultural traditions for future generations.

Achraf Aouadi, Co-Founder & CEO of WildyNess

Achraf Aouadi is the co-founder of WildyNess, a two-sided digital marketplace that connects travellers with authentic, immersive experiences in Tunisia and Algeria and the Middle East, enabling rural micro-entrepreneurs to digitise their services and access the global tourism market. A computer science engineer with more than ten years of experience in business development and operations, he brings strong expertise in technology-driven entrepreneurship. Achraf combines digital innovation with tourism development to make unique travel experiences more accessible. Through WildyNess, he aims to empower local guides and communities while expanding sustainable tourism opportunities.

Program partners

The programme was developed and is being implemented by enpact Stiftung. It is powered and supported by TUI Care Foundation, within the framework of TUI Care Foundation’s Empowering Communities Initiative.

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