Let the hunt for Africa’s next big tourism app begin

Whether you’re getting set for a long-haul flight or navigating around some fantastic destination, chances are that your mobile phone or tablet will come along for the ride. But what apps are you using before, during and after your trip?

As more tourists use their mobile devices to plan their adventures, the demand for helpful and efficient travel apps has increased. Some studies estimate that as much as 88% of smartphone users use their phones to access travel-related info. Which is probably why Visa and South African Tourism have decided to issue a challenge to developers across sub-Saharan Africa to build the best authentically African travel app for the region’s growing tourism industry.

“There are hundreds of international travel apps out there,” said Claire Olverman, Head of Cross-Border Marketing for Visa Sub-Saharan Africa. “But we think this is a great opportunity to create homegrown apps that really capture the feel of Africa and enhance the tourist experience of the continent.”

The competition encourages developers to create any type of travel app they want for any mobile device or platform, including iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Entries can include anything from online safari guides and urban directories to game spotting and recording apps, online booking and shopping tools, or apps interpreting local culture.

Interested developers have a few months to generate ideas — details and prizes for the Africa App Quest competition will be available from 1 January 2013 on the E-Tourism Frontiers website. Winners will be announced at the E-Tourism Africa Summit in September next year.