With the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Tourism, has been strategizing the recovery of Jamaica’s tourism industry. The goal of this recovery, however, is not to resume the traditional way of doing business, but to use this opportunity to re-imagine and re-invent our tourism product and value chains.
By doing so, we have championed the Blue Ocean Strategy as the theoretical underpinning of this plan of action. This strategy can be defined as the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open new market spaces and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, thereby rendering competition irrelevant.
The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), through our Research and Risk Management Department (RRMD), is proud to launch the Innovation Challenge with key partners as a pilot of the core Tourism Innovation Incubator process.
The Tourism Incubator will seek to find 25 innovative ideas in the areas of tourism products and tourism technology and set them on the path to commercialization through the Tourism Incubator Boot Camp.
The incubator will also facilitate or provide access to more training, direct coaching, and mentoring necessary to take the idea to market. To deliver these services, TEF will be working with existing partners but will also be working to expand the list of collaborators.....
With the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Tourism, has been strategizing the recovery of Jamaica’s tourism industry. The goal of this recovery, however, is not to resume the traditional way of doing business, but to use this opportunity to re-imagine and re-invent our tourism product and value chains.
By doing so, we have championed the Blue Ocean Strategy as the theoretical underpinning of this plan of action. This strategy can be defined as the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open new market spaces and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, thereby rendering competition irrelevant.
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The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), through our Research and Risk Management Department (RRMD), is proud to launch the Innovation Challenge with key partners as a pilot of the core Tourism Innovation Incubator process.
The Tourism Incubator will seek to find 25 innovative ideas in the areas of tourism products and tourism technology and set them on the path to commercialization through the Tourism Incubator Boot Camp. The incubator will also facilitate or provide access to more training, direct coaching, and mentoring necessary to take the idea to market. To deliver these services, TEF will be working with existing partners but will also be working to expand the list of collaborators.....
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To participate in the Tourism Innovation Incubator, the participant must meet the following criteria:
Other important notes:
The TEF is encouraging individuals to submit ideas falling within the broad categories of:
1. Tourism Products, and/or
2. Technology in Tourism
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a tourism product is “a combination of tangible and intangible elements, such as natural, cultural and man-made resources, attractions, facilities, services and activities around a specific centre of interest which represents the core of the destination marketing mix and creates an overall visitor experience including emotional aspects for the potential customers.” While all ideas in the “tourism product” category are welcome, participants can be guided by submitting ideas in the following categories:
1. Health and wellness
2. Eco-Tourism
3. Cultural Heritage
4. Gastronomy
5. Sports and Entertainment
Innovation is defined as a change that creates and/or adds value and provides a competitive advantage here and now. These may fall in the categories of new products, new services, new production methods, new forms of organization and new markets.
The Incubator aims to focus on innovative ideas which fall into four broad categories:
1. Breakthrough innovation – Using existing technology in a new business model, or using new technology in an existing business model which disrupts the existing market.
2. Radical Innovation – Using new technology and a new business model.
3. Disruptive innovation – new business models that eventually replace traditional business models.
4. Invention – a new, original product (i.e. never been done before).
**The idea does not have to be a technological innovation or invention.
The Incubator will support ideas that are useful and relevant, or practical in nature from its function to its design. This criterion emphasizes the difference between just ideating and ideating for a purpose. Usefulness can be determined, for example, by identifying gaps in market research and looking at market demand, and then seeing how the idea responds to this.
The commercialization of the idea must finally add value. Each participant must outline how the idea will add value to the tourism landscape and provide indicators for measuring same, e.g. tourism spend, visitor satisfaction, contribution to the tourism workforce etc.
The idea must have a significant effect on the tourism industry. While this criterion could be considered ambiguous, it is the criterion that separates a basic improvement from a contribution to Destination Jamaica. The participant must outline that, in addition to the being profitable, should the idea become a product it will:
1. Give Destination Jamaica international recognition;
2. Instantly provide jobs to more than 20 people;
3. Add a unique attraction to the tourism product;
4. Significantly reduce any negative tourism impacts (e.g. environmental) or problems in tourism; or
5. Improve the welfare of tourism workers.
1. The TEF will not purchase any form of property on behalf of the participants to execute their ideas.
2. The TEF will not provide staffing or pay salaries.
3. The TEF will not provide full grant funding for product development. While the Incubator will lend support in identifying potential sources of funding, it is the primary responsibility of the participants to secure funding for commercialization of their product.
4. Participants have a maximum of 3 months after the end of Phase I to source funding and begin the development of the prototype/product. After this timeline has expired it will be assumed that the participants are no longer a part of the current Incubator programme. This does not
prevent the participants from re-applying for another programme by the Incubator once appropriate. (Reform)
5. All ideas in the incubator are property of the individual(s) who submit and not the TEF.
6. Submissions constituting discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, fortune, birth or any other status shall be disqualified.
Selected participants will take part in a 6-month programme. A cadre of experienced facilitators and mentors will provide guidance to participants in the following areas:
1. Refining their ideas;
2. Creating and validating their lean canvas and business model;
3. Executing market research;
4. Providing intellectual property protection; and
5. Constructing a 3D Digital prototype of the product.
At the end of the programme the TEF will provide participants with a platform to pitch to potential investors and facilitate access to potential funding partners in debt, equity and grant financing. Participants will have the benefit of leveraging the brand of the TEF endorsing the resulting products.
Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has issued an open call for budding entrepreneurs to
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Tourism Innovation Incubator
We appreciate your interest in participating in the Tourism Innovation Challenge and submitting a pitch. We have received your application and are grateful that you took the time to apply. Applications will be processed in the next 3-4 weeks after which you will be notified of our decision.
All participants, mentors, evaluators, and facilitators involved in the Tourism Incubator process will sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before participating in the program. Your intellectual property is protected under the NDA.
You will receive a confirmation email with the contents of your submission. Remember to check your junk mail/spam if it doesn’t appear in your inbox.
