• Over 12,000 entrepreneurs representing 1,822 tourism SMEs have received support to launch or grow their businesses during the past decade

• Businesses supported by the TUI Care Foundation are creating jobs, protecting nature, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening local tourism economies

Over the past ten years, the TUI Care Foundation has supported more than 12,000 entrepreneurs in 1,822 small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to incubate, launch or accelerate their businesses. Together with over 100 local and international partners, the Foundation has invested in entrepreneurs across 50 destinations worldwide, helping them gain access to finance, mentoring, professional training, tourism markets and international networks.

Tourism is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, yet many face barriers to finance, business expertise and market access. In response, the TUI Care Foundation has developed an approach that goes beyond traditional grant funding.

Meanwhile, in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, artisan Carlos Nabté has transformed traditional Mayan limestone carving into a thriving tourism business. Support from the TUI Care Foundation helped him develop new products for Donia Way featuring its Maya-inspired character, Way Tun. He also strengthened his marketing to reach tourism markets, connecting centuries-old craftsmanship with international visitors and generating new income for local artisans. As Carlos reflects: "For years, I had to go door-to-door to sell my products. Thanks to the support from the TUI Care Foundation, that's a thing of the past."

Today, the Foundation's entrepreneurship programmes support a diverse community of founders, including women entrepreneurs, young innovators, LGBTQIA+ business owners, rural enterprises, social entrepreneurs and travel technology start-ups. Whether developing circular economy businesses in Zanzibar, empowering women tour guides in European cities, strengthening agritourism enterprises in Albania or helping young entrepreneurs bring their ideas in tourism to life in Spain, each initiative shares the same ambition: ensuring local communities benefit more directly from tourism.

Alexander Panczuk, Managing Director of the TUI Care Foundation, said: "Entrepreneurs are amongst the greatest drivers of positive change in tourism. They create jobs where opportunities are scarce, preserve traditions that might otherwise disappear and develop solutions that help protect the destinations on which tourism depends. Over the past ten years, we have learned that the best ideas almost always come from local people themselves. Our role is to provide the knowledge, partnership, mentoring and market access that allows those ideas to flourish. Supporting over 12,000 entrepreneurs is a significant milestone, but what matters most is the impact these businesses continue to create for their communities every single day."

Building on a decade of experience, the TUI Care Foundation continues to expand its support for entrepreneurs through partnerships with international organisations, governments, development agencies and tourism businesses. By helping local enterprises grow and become part of tourism value chains, the Foundation aims to create stronger local economies, more resilient destinations and tourism experiences that generate benefits for people and places alike.