TravHQ » Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism

‘The travel startup ecosystem in Vietnam is very difficult’, Bui Thi Nhan, Ecohost

Aekansh Malhotra — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:51:21 +0000

Vietnamese Startup Ecohost had recently won second prize in Region Travel Startup competition organized by MIST. Ecohost which received an innovation grant of US$5,000 enables quality tourism experiences in the Vietnamese countryside, working village-by-village to develop tours and activities while improving the capacity of rural homestays to serve international guests. We spoke to Bui Thi Nhan who is the Founder – Director of Ecosea Travel. The company is a member of Responsible Travel Club ( RTC ) In Vietnam.

You started Ecohost in July 2018, since then how the journey has been

We are now setup the Ecohost quality and which is not open to guests yet. However, for the tours to the destinations we have guests also and our guests are staying in the normal home-stays and experiencing the local taste. Ecohost accommodation is on the way to be completde and will be opening in January 2019.

In picture, one of the happy customers of Ecohost

How was your experience of participating in MIST?

MIST is great program with us because we have a great chance to learn alot and connect with many people on the Tourism industry and big network – where we can connect together and learn more about there tecknology and solution for our website.

Currently, you’re active in which all cities in Vietnam?

We are now setting Ecohost in Nam Dinh Province, Bac Ninh Provin and Duong Lam – Sơn Tay – Hanoi. Our website and platform is on the verge of completion and I hope website content will soon be available for booking in Jan 2019.

What was the idea of starting a sustainable tourism startup.

All of our founders are member of RTC club so we put the main sustainable’s criteria in the top to-dos in design and setup for Ecohost amenities, and all the activities for our guests will be notice to the guests.

How is the startup ecosystem in Vietnam like?

Very difficult because we lack many things, from technology to the financial, but with the good idea and support from a lot of travel companies, we hope that, we will have more success in the near future.

Your business model seems to be competing with Airbnb

ECOHOST is not the same as AirBnb. We are similar to OYO rooms but we have more activities for the village, package tours for the home-stays and support sales and marketing, with training and control qualities of all the villages being done by us. Airbnb is a channel where we can sales Ecohost and package.

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Mekong programme selects 10 tourism startups for accelerator, market access support

Debarati Dasgupta — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 03:49:03 +0000

The Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) – which features a startup accelerator and a separate market access programme – will support 10 innovative travel and hospitality companies this year.

Launched two years ago, the innovation programme aims to identify and support high-growth travel and hospitality businesses that have potential to contribute positively to local communities, economies, and the environment. It is jointly supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian government and six-government Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MCTO).

Five local entrepreneurs from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam earned spots in the MIST Startup Accelerator programme, which teaches business fundamentals to early-stage travel and hospitality startups.

The five startups are: BambooLao (Laos), which produces reusable bamboo straws; Ecohost (Vietnam), which aims to improve local homestay management and activities; Go Explore (Vietnam), which organises “workation” programmes aimed at international and domestic remote workers; Sidesbag (Cambodia), which enables airline passengers to purchase luggage allowance from fellow travellers; and VDEs (Vietnam), which connects event planners with event venues.

The Startup Accelerator finalists will reconvene in October, concurrent with ITB Asia in Singapore, to compete for innovation grants up to US$10,000.

MIST has also selected five companies to join its Market Access programme, which invites innovators from around the world to solve tourism and hospitality industry challenges in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The programme helps innovators clear market entry obstacles, form local partnerships and secure financing for proof-of-concept pilots.

The five companies chosen are: Adventoro, a bookable directory of bucket-list worthy activities including whitewater rafting, jungle treks and diving excursions; DidaTravel Technology, which offers backend technology for hotel booking, providing real-time inventory and rates; hereO, creator of the heroO GPS watch for kids, and offers plug-and-play IoT technology; Moneybay, which provides a digital cross-border currency exchange platform; and Monkey Theory, which offers branded sporting events.

“There is no doubt that technology is rapidly transforming travel. The trick is to harness and accelerate innovative business models that also positively transform lives, communities and the natural environment,” said Jens Thraenhart, executive director of MCTO.

“MIST has received more than 350 applications from all over the world, demonstrating the GMS’ dynamism as a destination and its attractiveness to innovators,” added Dominic Mellor, senior investment advisor for the ADB.

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MIST and Voyager HQ to co-host Travel Tech Pitch night in Vietnam

Debarati Dasgupta — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 04:56:57 +0000

Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will co-host a Travel Tech Pitch night in Ho Chi Minh City with New York-based travel tech incubator Voyager HQ, on March 1 to gather those on the cutting edge of travel, innovation for an inside look at the next generation of travel products and services.

While a selection of highly-qualified founders will present what’s coming up in the near future of travel to a panel of industry leaders, investors and corporate partners, experienced industry leaders will oversee the judging of the startups’ pitches. All judges, gold and premier sponsors, and startup founders will receive an analysis of their performance post-event.

Know more about the initiative, here.

MIST is the Mekong’s tourism and travel tech accelerator organized by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and the Mekong Business Initiative. It is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia to propel and transform innovative tourism ideas into sustainable businesses.

MIST has two acceleration tracks; the MIST Startup Accelerator focuses on early-stage tourism companies and startups already based in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam, and the MIST Market Access Accelerator welcomes mature businesses based anywhere in the world that wish to expand into the Mekong region.

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