UNDP’s Kolba Lab is looking for innovative ideas to shake up and help boost tourism in Lori region, as part of Future Skills and Jobs project. The project is supported by the Russian Federation, and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. We look forward to interesting and bold ideas related to future of tourism that will be implemented in Lori region. The application deadline is June 1. You can submit your idea here.

2020 came with many challenges for tourism and travel, making this fast growing and dynamic sector one of the most vulnerable ones. To address the deepening vulnerability of the sector and the damages the industry has suffered, Armenian tourism mostly focuses on innovative solutions, indoor tourism, and development and delivery of diversified products and services.

In 2019, Kolba Lab had conducted large-scale participatory consultations in the regions to identify the emerging trends in the industry together with the local community. Our foresight consultations gave a number of trends in Lori to keep an eye on, such as: growing interest in ecotourism, rural-, gastro- and industrial tourism; growing demand for eco-products; increasing number of freelancers and remote workers; increased demand for digital services; the need for diversified leisure and entertainment packages; growing potential for waste management and recycling, and so on.

Given all above-mentioned trends, plus the newly emerging challenges due to COVID-19 consequences, Kolba Lab announces call for future-oriented innovative ideas targeting tourism in Lori region.

The call has several priority directions:

  • Development of future-oriented products and services

How could the digital solutions help boost the interest towards tourism in Lori region among customers from local and international  markets?

Is it possible to use the virtual and augmented reality technologies to give new life to abandoned industrial areas?

Can multimedia production help turn yet undiscovered and unexplored spots in Lori region into new touristic attractions (both online and offline)?

  • Increased flexibility and efficiency of business processes

How might the use of tech solutions (for example, data science, artificial intelligence, etc.) help expand the sale of travel and touristic services?

Is it possible to design completely new packages of experiences and services for traditionally famous tourist destinations or re-invent previously unpopular spots by engaging expertise from the creative industry?

What kind of new sales channels and mechanisms can be designed to showcase new type of products and services in the tourism industry?

  • Resilience of the tourism sector and platform for new synergies

How to use the opportunities of the creative field for tourist attractions to create eye-catching (to avoid attract->attractive) online packages?

How might the emerging trend of remote and freelance employment be used as an opportunity to develop tourism in the region?

Can the revitalization or the alternative use of public spaces become the basis of new tourist services?

Is it possible to work with creative people to develop new entertainment options, such as culinary  tourism.

These directions are orienting, but not limiting. We will be happy to work with bold, future-oriented proposals to design tourism of future together!

Looking for inspiration? Here are some examples from other countries:

  • Smartguide Vienna – The device includes information in different languages from the sights of Vienna, it has a map that guides the visitor and is much easier and more flexible than the standard bus tour, accompanying guide or printed or electronic guides.
  • Creating 3D models of abandoned places that allows you to “walk” in forgotten and inaccessible places.
  • RubiQ Startup helps airlines reduce Hotline weight and process the recalculating and ticket returning to the passengers. In the current situation automated processing is one of the most important aspects. RubiQ uses AI mobile solution that informs travelers about the available travel options, allows them to order the preferred version based on their individual needs.Make sure you submit your idea before June 1. We are open to new partnerships and ideas, and look forward to it!  Submit your idea here.