Lisa Sowerby took the pandemic as a chance to be taught app growth. Only some brief months later, she had developed an app and based an organization – Discover Lofoten was born.
The Norwegian woman is at the moment ending up her diploma in Worldwide Administration at King’s Faculty London. When the pandemic hit, Sowerby was purported to be in Shanghai finishing an internship.
As an alternative, she needed to journey again residence to Lofoten the place she runs Lofoten Camp collectively together with her father.
She describes herself as somebody all the time in want of a mission and shortly turned bored because of the lack of vacationers on the camp. She determined she wanted a problem, and app growth was the reply.
“I’ve all the time needed to be taught app growth,” Sowerby says, “and understanding myself I be taught finest once I’m engaged on a mission.”
Lack of vacationers
Lofoten is thought for its picturesque mountains and seashores and is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer locations in Norway. The truth is, when you Google “Norway” and have a look at the images, likelihood is the well-known Lofoten surroundings will greet you from the display screen.
Working with vacationers in Lofoten, Sowerby shortly observed how the trade was significantly susceptible to the pandemic.
Over a Zoom interview with Norway In the present day, she describes an urge to assist the trade that she herself is part of. “I believed to myself, I wish to be taught app growth and will use a mission. Why not work on one thing that may profit the Lofoten tourism trade?”
And similar to that, she began engaged on an app that might later change into Discover Lofoten.
Solely the start
Whereas the iOS model has been obtainable for some time, the Android model simply launched. Sowerby emphasizes that whereas the app is totally functioning and obtainable to make use of, there are a number of thrilling updates coming over the following few months.
“I’m significantly pleased with the app as a result of it really works as a complete information to Lofoten. You’ll find eating places, seashores, and varied actions. It’s designed to be simple to make use of, and if you’re happening a hike the app tells you the place the path begins,” she says excitedly.
“Along with this, there’s a map operate that makes it doable to see the place various things are in accordance with your personal place. It can save you your favorites into a listing, and there may be additionally a choice of helpful articles to learn for many who have an interest.”
Desires to assist small companies
The purpose, she explains, was to make a well-rounded app that might function a software for vacationers visiting Lofoten. Moreover, she desires to provide extra alternatives to small companies and hopes that her app can contribute to getting the tourism trade in Lofoten again on its toes post-COVID.
When requested about how she plans to maneuver ahead, she explains that she would like to develop the idea to different elements of Northern Norway to be able to proceed selling small companies and assist vacationers join with them.
The app is at the moment obtainable in English and Norwegian, however Sowerby assures that extra languages are coming.
“We’re at the moment engaged on increasing to German and Polish and can enhance the language rely much more over the following few months,” she says.
The entrepreneurial gene
When requested about the place she will get her entrepreneurial aptitude, Sowerby is fast to reply.
“It’s all because of my dad and mom,” she says. “They’re each entrepreneurs and have undoubtedly impressed me.”
She significantly attributes her father who allowed her to participate of their enterprise Lofoten Camp at an early age. Being part-owner of their firm implies that she already had some entrepreneurial expertise in addition to a foot throughout the tourism trade.
“It simply made sense to do one thing that I’m taken with whereas subsequently selling a spot that I really like,” Sowerby exclaims.
Supply: Norway In the present day / #Norway In the present day / #NorwayTodayTravel