Digital Pathways to Tourism
Preparing youth for careers in tourism and hospitality through hands-on digital and AI training.
Program Description
In partnership with Paystand and GitLab, Digital Pathways to Tourism equips young people with digital skills and gives them opportunities to apply those skills to real challenges in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Participants build practical experience with artificial intelligence, digital marketing, data analysis, customer experience, and emerging technologies, using these tools to design better experiences, improve services, and help businesses adapt to an increasingly digital and experience-driven market. The program also introduces technologies such as blockchain and AI that can strengthen transparency, personalize tourism experiences, and improve services such as recommendations, routes, and bookings.
Alongside technical and life skills development, young people receive support and build life skills as they create their pathways toward employment, entrepreneurship, or continued education. By connecting digital learning with real industry needs, the program strengthens young people’s competitiveness while helping tourism businesses innovate and contributing to local economic growth.
Program Partners
Funding
Implementation
Change in Action
Participants use tools such as AI to improve routes, recommendations, and bookings; digital marketing to create more personalized visitor experiences; and emerging technologies such as blockchain to strengthen transparency in tourism services. Through this hands-on work, young people gain relevant experience and clearer pathways into employment, entrepreneurship, and further education. At the same time, local tourism businesses benefit from fresh ideas and digital solutions that help them innovate and adapt to a changing industry
Since 2025, 368 young people have participated in the program, 75% of them women, and 80% of participants complete the program.
“I gained the knowledge I needed to position my business effectively, improve our image, and attract customers by leveraging new technologies, as well as understand concepts that benefit our business, which focuses on attracting tourists.”
Mildred Santamaría, Digital Pathways to Tourism graduate
Geography
Colombia
Panama