Ten teams have been selected to participate in the Startup Tourism business accelerator hosted by KLAK – Icelandic startups, which will begin on October 28. The accelerator is intended to strengthen the pillars of tourism in Iceland, promote new businesses, increase entertainment options, promote technological advancement in tourism, and promote the distribution of tourists throughout the country, all year round.
A large number of applications were received in Startup Tourism and it is clear that there was a great reason to revive the accelerator that has been dormant in recent years. It was run four times in 2016-2019 with good success, and many tourism companies in Iceland that are still operating today took their first steps in Startup Tourism.
This year, applications were received from all parts of the country, and the ideas ranged from new tourist destinations to diverse technology solutions and service concepts. Kolfinna Kristínardóttir, Project Manager for Startup Tourism, says that it was gratifying to find a lot of interest in the accelerator and tourism solutions across the country at 13 briefings held earlier this month. “The tourism industry has been growing rapidly since the pandemic and it is clear that there are many opportunities for improvement and development in the industry. The teams selected for this year’s accelerator are very diverse and I have no doubt that their contribution will contribute to innovation in the industry and improve the experience of both tourists and locals.”
Startup Tourism's sponsors are Berjaya Iceland Hotels, Icelandair, N1, Icelandia, the Ministry of Culture and Trade and Faxaflóahafnir, in addition to the Icelandic Travel Cluster / Iceland Tourism and Íslandsstofa joining the project as partners.
Alheimur is a science center that contains interactive and interesting content about the nature of science and technology. The goal is to educate through play, entertainment and theatrical presentations that captivate children and other visitors so that the learning remains and the desire to know more increases. At Alheimur, entertainment and education are integrated so that the experience becomes unique.
Eys Tourism aims to ensure that tourists can enjoy the Arctic nature (the Arctic) and travel there in a sustainable manner and without creating an intrusion on the places where they travel. A holistic travel experience is created where the organization must be enjoyed and not rush between tourist attractions and all domestic travel will be in a sustainable manner with environmentally friendly energy sources. At the same time, strong emphasis will be placed on connecting the travel experience with events of the residents of the area so that tourists get an insight into the culture of each region.
HotSheep focuses on so-called last-minute bookings of experiences. Trips are filled up by offering attractive discounts when it's close to departure. With this, the tour operator gets better utilization and the tourist gets a better price.
The project is about giving foreign tourists the opportunity to rent good outdoor clothing at an affordable price during their stay. A side activity is that during the summer we also offer camping equipment. Many tourists from warm countries do not have warm outdoor clothing. Outdoor clothing also takes up a lot of space in luggage. This, together with the convenience of being able to access all the outdoor clothing they need in one, well-located place, are the reasons for IcelandCover's operations.
A Nordic job centre for tourism, connecting tourism companies with qualified staff. Our platform streamlines the recruitment process for jobs with flexible working hours and shifts, ensuring that companies can quickly find qualified staff when they need them most.
PMU.is is a customized software for the tourism industry that enhances the management of shuttle services for tourists. The user can use a guide that makes it easier for him to find his stop and ensures that he is at the right place. When he arrives, he can clock in, which uses the phone's location coordinates and verifies that he is at the right place. The clock in proves that the customer has arrived at the right time and place in case the bus leaves without him.
The project aims to restore tourism services in Grindavík after the earthquakes, with an emphasis on tourist safety and the use of the geological uniqueness of the area. We intend to build a sustainable tourism service with educational centers, organized tours and nature experiences, as well as creating a platform for scientific research. We intend to use existing data from the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Icelandic Meteorological Office for mapping. The goal is to ensure sustainable development and restoration of Grindavík as a destination.
Snotra is developing a SaaS-based AI solution to empower the tourism industry, ensuring compliance with EU sustainability policies and industry standards through data collection and distributed, interactive training aimed at increasing overall engagement in tourism sustainability.
Guyde is a voice-activated navigation app that, with the help of artificial intelligence and speech synthesis technology, provides companionship and guidance to travelers in private and rental cars according to their location and personal preferences.
Adventure Properties plans to make a new destination in South Iceland, more specifically Reynisfjall near Vík in Mýrdal. The plan is to improve accessibility and safety with markings and signs for cyclists and hikers. Improve accessibility with bus trips up the mountain. (also for the disabled) Improve safety by having a rest area up the mountain with toilets and refreshments. (Old radio station.) Improve entertainment.
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