ETENA: Empowering Tourism Ecosystems in North Africa

ETENA is building a support infrastructure for innovative tourism ventures in Egypt and North Africa

Launched by TUI Care Foundation and enpact, the ETENA programme focuses on supporting 100 aspiring entrepreneurs and 10 startup founders in tourism and tourism supply chains across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, providing them with tailored business development support and financial backing opportunities.

The purpose is to help them develop innovative solutions that can promote local experiences, drive job creation, and by extension, create inclusive social impact.

The programme comprises four phases of key activities: Idea Marathon, 2-month Pre-incubator, 6-month Incubator, and a regional 3-month Accelerator.

Key information

Duration

01.01.2025 to 31.12.2026
Supporting

100 aspiring entrepreneurs in Egypt and 10 startups founders in the region
Direct support

500 Euros/month direct financial support for each team in the ETENA Incubator

Objectives

Empowering entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions in tourism and its supply chains that can enhance livelihoods for local communities, promote sustainable development, and preserve cultural heritage, ensuring long-term positive impact for all stakeholders.

Locations

Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco
Targeted SDGs

Program objectives

Digital innovation

ETENA empowers entrepreneurs working on innovative and technology-driven solutions that enhance tourism and travel experiences, drive job creation and generate positive social impact. Equipping them with the essential tools helps shape inclusive tourism ecosystems.

Sustainability

ETENA fosters the notion of responsible tourism by supporting ideas and startups that drive economic growth while giving back to local communities, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting environmentally conscious practices.

Connectivity and growth

ETENA focuses on knowledge sharing and providing a support network where entrepreneurs come together with industry experts, enablers, and investors to exchange and explore areas for collaboration and growth.

Driving tourism innovation across multiple levels

To provide a holistic support infrastructure for the tourism ecosystems in Egypt and North Africa, the ETENA programme is designed for entrepreneurs at different stages of the entrepreneurship journey.

In Egypt, the program’s key activities – Idea Marathon, Pre-incubator, and Incubator – are designed for idea-stage entrepreneurs working on solutions to enhance the country’s tourism and travel sector. Participants receive training, mentorship, and funding opportunities to develop their ideas into viable businesses that drive innovation and sustainable growth.

Extending its support from Egypt to Tunisia and Morocco, the programme provides a 3-month accelerator for 10 startup founders in rural tourism across the three countries. Through diverse networking avenues, participants connect with international experts and investors, gaining the insights and support needed to grow their businesses with impact.

ETENA program components

Ideation & pre-incubation

+20 teams of aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in tourism and tourism supply chains will be selected to join a nationwide idea marathon that leads to a two-month pre-incubator. Participants will receive access to business development resources that help them conceptualise their ideas and develop prototypes.

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6 months of incubation

4 teams of aspiring entrepreneurs with conceptual prototypes will be selected for a 6-month incubator. Each team will receive comprehensive training, dedicated mentoring, access to workstations, and direct financial support of 500 euros monthly.

Applications will open soon

3 months of acceleration

The ETENA 3-month accelerator is designed to support 10 startup founders, operating in rural tourism in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, with strategic mentoring and access to regional exposure and investment possibilities for enhanced growth.

Applications will open soon

Regional roundtable discussions

To help the ETENA participants enhance their business potential and grow with impact, the programme provides them with high-level networking opportunities with international experts and investors through regular roundtable discussions.

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.

Get involved

To receive the latest updates about the ETENA programme, including launch dates for the programme’s phases and roundtable discussions, sign up to our mailing list.