First read is on us.

Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news.

East African startup competition taps SMS bus ticket company as winner


Skift Take

Feature phones are still the dominant communication device in the emerging world and this Tanzanian startup's basic service improves travelers' lives with a basic implementation of an otherwise complicated transaction.

Judges were fierce at the Tanzania final of The Next Web’s global startup competition, Startup World, held in Dar Es Salaam this month where over 100 people turned out to see ten startups battle it out for the finalist title.

... Safari Yetu changes how consumers buy bus tickets in Tanzania; currently buying a bus ticket for travel means going to a bus station a day earlier than the expected travel date, spending two to five hours in traffic just to get your ticket and then do the same the day you are traveling. With Safari Yetu, you pay online or via mobile, receive an SMS reservation or ticket and go to the bus station once; the day you are traveling.

Up Next

Hotels

How Data Quality Issues Impact Global Hospitality Operations

There are wide discrepancies in data quality for hotel transactions across global regions, with the largest occurring in Asia-Pacific. Because hotels and agencies need to harness data quality to thrive, they must take a more nuanced regional approach to monitoring potential issues.
Sponsored
Hotels

Inside Boutique Group’s Cultural and Social Sustainability Commitments

Modern sustainability in travel is no longer just about environmental initiatives. Hotel brands must also consider their impact on local communities and commitments to cultural heritage. With those pillars in mind, Boutique Group is paving the way for a new “responsible luxury” model in Saudi Arabia.
Sponsored