TUI Futureshapers Reset Tourism Fund
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, accounting for over 10% of global GDP and supporting millions of jobs worldwide. But while it has enormous potential to drive prosperity, it also faces pressing challenges – from greenhouse gas emissions and waste to persistent inequalities in who benefits from the opportunities it creates.
At the centre of this are the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up around 80% of the global tourism sector. These businesses are often locally owned and closely tied to their communities, but they frequently struggle to access the affordable capital needed to innovate, grow and adopt more sustainable practices.
The TUI Futureshapers Global – Reset Tourism Fund addresses this challenge by combining affordable, low-interest loans with technical support, mentoring and visibility. Over the next two years, the project will empower small tourism businesses in TUI priority destinations to create decent work, strengthen community benefits and accelerate the transition towards a more inclusive and sustainable tourism industry.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the tourism industry. They provide jobs, preserve culture and champion community-led experiences that travellers value most. Yet despite their importance, these businesses are routinely excluded from traditional financing. Commercial loans are often unaffordable, inflexible or unavailable, particularly for locally owned enterprises in emerging destinations. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only widened this financing gap, leaving many SMEs without the resources needed to rebuild resilience, invest in sustainability or expand their reach.
To respond to this challenge, the TUI Care Foundation and the UnTours Foundation first joined forces in 2022 to launch the TUI Futureshapers Global initiative. In its initial phase, the partnership provided 144,000 USD in flexible investment capital to seven pioneering small tourism businesses across Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. These companies went on to create 20 new jobs, sustain over 100 livelihoods, and reach more than 25,000 travellers, whilst also embedding sustainability and community engagement into their growth strategies. Building on this success, the new Reset Tourism Fund scales up the initiative and broaden its reach.
Under the current two year-phase, at least eight and up to eleven small tourism businesses will be supported with low-interest loans set at around 5% – far below typical market rates. Loans will be structured for repayment over two years, with the principal returned to the TUI Care Foundation for reinvestment in future projects, ensuring the model continues to generate impact long after this phase ends.
The businesses selected for investment are carefully screened to align with social, environmental and economic impact goals. Once onboarded, they benefit not only from access to finance but also from technical support, mentorship and visibility opportunities. Each enterprise receives tailored guidance on financial management, sustainability practices and impact tracking, equipping them to thrive in the long term.
In practice, the project increases access to finance for entrepreneurs while building their investment readiness through online training, reaching 160 participants. It also enables the creation or maintenance of at least 100 jobs and supports another 100 livelihoods by helping businesses grow their revenue, expand their sustainability practices and deepen their community role. While the fund is open to all types of SMEs, there is a clear focus on ensuring that women-owned enterprises are supported wherever possible, recognising their vital role in inclusive local development.
By combining accessible capital with technical support and global visibility, the TUI Futureshapers Global – Reset Tourism Fund unlocks the potential of community-rooted enterprises to drive inclusive growth and shape a tourism industry that is fairer, greener and more resilient.
Project Partner
UnTours Foundation is a nonprofit impact investor that dedicates its entire endowment to businesses creating meaningful social and environmental change. Its mission is to unleash capital and kindness to support bold ideas and build healthy, sustainable communities. Unlike traditional foundations, it uses all of its resources to invest in entrepreneurs who are driving long-term, systemic solutions. The Foundation is also the proud owner of UnTours, the world’s first Certified B Corporation, which donates 100% of its profits to the Foundation. This unique model creates a continuous cycle of impact that is both financially sustainable and deeply rooted in purpose.
