TUI Care Foundation Expands Support for Sustainable Tourism Startups in Portugal, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco
(IN SHORT) TUI Care Foundation has launched new TUI Futureshapers programmes in Portugal and North Africa to foster sustainable tourism entrepreneurship. In Portugal, the initiative is returning for a second round in collaboration with IRIS to provide training and mentoring to up to 60 entrepreneurs, with the top three teams receiving funding and six months of incubation. In North Africa, in partnership with enpact Stiftung, over 180 individuals from Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco will be supported through ideation sessions, pre-incubator training, and a final accelerator programme featuring mentoring, financial backing, and startup camps. The programmes aim to address common challenges such as limited access to capital and networks, particularly in rural communities, by turning tourism into a force for sustainable local development. These initiatives are part of the global TUI Futureshapers strategy to enable impact-driven entrepreneurship in tourism-rich regions.
(PRESS RELEASE) BERLIN, 2025-Jul-25 — /Travel PR News/ — The TUI Care Foundation has launched two new TUI Futureshapers programmes in Portugal and North Africa, designed to support aspiring social entrepreneurs in building impactful and sustainable tourism businesses. These initiatives aim to break down barriers that micro, small, and medium enterprises face—such as limited access to funding, market reach, and support networks—despite the robust tourism potential in regions like Portugal, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.
In Portugal, following the success of its first phase in 2023–2024, TUI Futureshapers is once again partnering with IRIS (Regional Incubator for Social Innovation) to offer hands-on support to entrepreneurs across four cities. Up to 60 participants will engage in online and in-person workshops focused on social innovation within tourism. Ten standout projects will be selected for personalized mentoring by TUI Group experts and a three-day training programme. These finalists will present their ventures at a showcase event in Porto, where the top three teams will receive cash prizes and continue with six months of intensive incubation support.
Meanwhile, in North Africa, TUI Futureshapers is working with enpact Stiftung to empower over 180 entrepreneurs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, with a particular emphasis on rural areas and integrating indigenous communities into tourism experiences. The programme begins with ideation marathons to introduce entrepreneurship and foster connections, followed by a pre-incubator phase where 50 participants receive guidance and pitch their ideas. From there, eight teams will benefit from financial support, coworking space in Cairo, and targeted mentorship. In the final accelerator stage, ten startup founders from the three countries will access advanced training, mentoring, and take part in two intensive startup camps in Egypt.
Both initiatives are part of the broader global TUI Futureshapers movement, which empowers individuals to turn tourism-related challenges into viable, purpose-driven business opportunities, promoting local development and sustainability in key holiday destinations.
About the TUI Care Foundation
Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates projects which create new opportunities and contribute to thriving communities in tourism destinations all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, it supports education and training opportunities for young people; drives the protection of natural habitats and the marine environment; and helps local communities to thrive sustainably and benefit from tourism. The TUI Care Foundation builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long-lasting impact. The independent charitable organisation was founded by TUI, one of the world’s leading tourism businesses, and is based in the Netherlands.
About IRIS
IRIS is an incubator that supports the creation and development of social innovation projects, which are new ideas to solve serious social and environmental problems. IRIS – Regional Incubator for Social Innovation was created in 2017, in the Tâmega e Sousa region, under a partnership for impact, promoted by the European Investment Bank Institute and PortusPark, with co-financing from Portugal Inovação Social. In 2020, to continue the work developed, the non-profit association IRISOCIAL Incubadora de Inovação Social was created. Currently, IRIS operates along three axes: incubation, capacity building and education. In incubation, it supports impact projects and empowers them to have the necessary tools to achieve better results and social and environmental impact. www.iris-social.org (http://www.iris-social.org)
About enpact Stiftung
enpact is a non-profit organisation working with entrepreneurs and business support organizations across all development stages. Its approach is designed to facilitate quick and efficient access to the crucial resources needed for the sustainable growth of any business: financial support, training, mentoring and network development. All projects of the foundation are founded on peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, connecting resources across ecosystems, and building global communities that support entrepreneurial activity.
Media contact:
Manuel Ferreira
+44 (0)7471260915
manuel.ferreira@tui.com
SOURCE: TUI Group
