AlUla invites tourism innovators to Scale-up Hub

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has extended an open invitation to scale-up companies working within the global tourism ecosystem to test mature concepts, products, or services and conduct pilots in AlUla, with an opportunity to roll out exciting concepts as part of its new RCU Scale-up Hub programme.

A key part of RCU’s innovation strategy to leverage the value proposition of AlUla as a globally recognised luxury destination that merges heritage, nature, adventure, and cultural immersion, the RCU Scale-up Hub Programme will host entrepreneurs, projects, and ventures that can directly contribute positive impact to the tourism sector in AlUla and beyond.

In other words, RCU is seeking innovative solutions and aims to enhance the overall tourism experience, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to the growth of the sector as a whole.

The RCU Scale-up Hub Programme’s core objectives are to identify, nurture, and introduce advanced solutions with potential to address the various challenges and opportunities for AlUla – with tourism as the initial area of focus.

The programme will support the development of mature start-ups, also referred to as scale-ups, through a series of pilot projects and testing to determine their viability and impact before moving to full-scale implementation.

With the potential to become a blueprint for how established destinations can work with mature start-ups, the RCU Scale-up Hub Programme’s focus on close partnerships and ongoing engagement will foster an environment of collaboration between scale-ups and RCU.

Participants in the RCU Scale-up Hub Programme will benefit greatly from specialised training and mentoring from RCU leaders, Innovation Board of Advisors and its expansive global network of industry experts, leaders in innovation and academia, as well as key figures from tech, tourism, and related sectors.

RCU’s collaborators in the Scale-up Hub Programme include UNWTO, KAUST, MIT Technology Review, and IE University. Additionally, successful graduates of the programme will be offered contracts to work with RCU on a long-term basis.

Scheduled to graduate in March 2024, the RCU Scale-up Hub programme’s first cohort is focused on tourism and will include five scale-ups, with each specifically paired to a field or work related to AlUla’s challenges and opportunities. Later cohorts will go beyond tourism and focus on other key sectors that will support the comprehensive regeneration of AlUla.

The scouting, screening, evaluation, and selection of candidates to join the RCU Scale-up Hub Programme will be rigorous, selecting only the scale-up companies that have demonstrated high potential and a strong product-market fit for AlUla, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service