USI Master in International Tourism students in the spotlight as winners of the first 'fu-turismo' hackathon

The USI Master in International Tourism students awarded at the fu-turismo hackathon
The USI Master in International Tourism students awarded at the fu-turismo hackathon

Institutional Communication Service

16 October 2020

Over twenty students of the USI Master in International Tourism took part in "fu-turismo", the first hackathon dedicated to the tourism sector of the future in Ticino, on October 3 and 4. Two winning USI projects, FermaTI and Eyemate, came in second and fifth place respectively at the prize ceremony, held on October 7.

At the fu-turismo hackathon, held online and coordinated by Impact Hub Ticino, the USI students were called to envision a tourism development that meets the needs of today's tourists and their host region, while protecting and improving opportunities for the future. Tourism that meets economic, social and nature needs while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes and biodiversity. During the 24-hour event, students and tourism specialists were able to collaboratively explore the potential of positive transformation that tourism can bring, thus contributing to a better quality of life for all by developing their ideas on themes such as transformative and/or inclusive tourism.

During the award ceremony on October 7, FermaTI and Eyemate projects placed second and fifth and were created by students enrolled in the second and first year of the USI Master in International Tourism respectively. The FermaTI project, created by – Alice Geronzi (Switzerland), Cecilia Tampieri (Italy), Giulia Operti (Italy) and Rossella Reale (Italy), aimed at the creation of a set of multifunctional cards that encourage discovery and enrich the journey through simple stimuli of listening, reflection, memory and action. The Eyemate project, created by – Amélie Keller (Switzerland), Clarissa Dozza (Italy), Irene Balboni (Italy), Kanan Shamilov (Azerbaijan) and Skúli Halldórsson (Iceland), aimed at making tourism in Ticino accessible for people with disabilities. 

The five winning projects are now in the incubatory phase, ready to be developed and realised in the near future. Participating in the fu-turismo hackathon was a great chance for our students to apply what they have and will learn about tourism and sustainability in a creative way.