Second-year International Tourism Management students were again challenged this year to come up with a new tour operator concept. During the online final, the five teams with the best ideas competed against each other. The price? A check with which the winners can actually carry out their self-invented journey!
- A journey through time
The Amsterdam student Masuma Sharifi makes the impossible possible with her journey. She takes her travelers on a journey through time through both historic and modern China. She received extra praise from the jury, consisting of professionals from the travel industry, because she carried out the entire project individually; and has also secured a final spot! - Looking for your inner hero
Maaike Vrancken and Imelda Hoorn from Tio Amsterdam put together an adventurous journey through the Scottish highlands. Through challenging excursions, they challenge their travelers to step out of their comfort zone, find their inner hero and become real ‘trail blazers’. - Tropical destinations
The Baywatch concept by Zara Mayer and Rosan Busstra from Utrecht focuses on protecting the heart of our planet: the ocean. Their two-week tour of Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands includes an idyllic snorkeling tour, surf lessons and relaxing yoga sessions on the beach, while at the same time cleaning up trash on the paradise beaches by the travelers. - Instagrammable Arabia
A trip along the most instagram worthy highlights of the Arab world, that is the concept of Eline Brok and Jody van Wallinga of Tio Hengelo. Their tour operator TravelLike offers a photogenic journey through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jordan with many opportunities to take perfect snaps for social media. #letsgetsocial - Not all classrooms have four walls
Famke Schoeman and Danicya Haurissa from Tio Utrecht focus on a completely different target group: families with young children and an urge for adventure. During this designed trip through Indonesia, the children learn more about the nature, culture and geography of the destination through an interactive app with quiz questions.
Exciting to the last moment…
The jury needed a long time to consider the numbers one, two and three, but eventually came to a unanimous decision: with their well thought-out concept, creative video pitch and strong online question round, the first prize goes to Trailblazers from Maaike and Imelda! Maaike: “It is just so cool that we can really make the trip we designed! It was quite strange that the final was online, but it gave us the opportunity to think out of the box.” And that out-of-the-box thinking has certainly paid off. Imelda: “I can't even believe yet that we have won. I don't know what to say”. Lecturer Marion knows what to say, namely that they should toast on the winning team during a Zoom drink!