1888EC Partners Mastercard Foundation To Build Ethiopia’s First Travel Platform

Ethiopian startup studio, 1888EC have announced a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to create the country’s first travel and leisure platform, aimed at creating digital solutions and job opportunities within the country’s tourism sector.

1888EC is an innovative studio that aspires to create disruptive innovators and change-makers, champion digital transformation, and job creation.

"The tourism and travel industry is a key development area for Ethiopia yet it has been hit the hardest from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ushering in a digitally-enabled tourism platform, will fuel job creation, expand access to services, enhance consumer information, and position the nation to a higher acceleration in the digital transformation domain," said Kidist Tesfaye, Start-up Consultant and Social Entrepreneur.

The tourism and leisure platform, which will be developed as a prototype in the coming months, will be a modern and user-friendly interface for travelers to access more tourist destinations, book accommodations easier, feel safer by using a trusted app that tracks information, and offer packages to promote increased travel across the country while attracting greater foreign currency to boost the economy.

Its features and services will include access to verified tour guides, accommodation bookings, a best local attraction locator, local experience offerings, and many more options for travelers. The platform will showcase a diverse pool of vendors, including travel and tour service providers, vetted and trained drivers, tour guides, translators, and even local experience buddies.It will curate from existing service providers as well as onboard and train new providers. It will also recruit freelancers and train them to provide quality customer service.

1888EC says it will release calls for partnerships and applications once the prototype has been developed and tested over the next few months.