Tourexpi
Spain Hosts 123rd Meeting of UN Tourism Executive Council to Nominate New Secretary-General
Spain
is hosting the 123rd meeting of the Executive Council of UN Tourism (formerly
the World Tourism Organization), the only United Nations agency headquartered
in Spain, as it marks its 50th anniversary this year. The event is taking place
at the Royal Site of San Ildefonso in La Granja, Segovia, on May 29 and 30.
As
a permanent member of the Executive Council and a global reference in
transformative tourism policy, Spain is represented at the highest level by
Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, and Rosario Sánchez, Secretary
of State for Tourism.
The
main milestone of this session will be the nomination of a candidate for the
position of Secretary-General of UN Tourism, whose final appointment will be
confirmed by the General Assembly later this year in Saudi Arabia.
Minister
Hereu, who will officially open the session on Friday, will advocate for
Spain’s ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism in its social, economic, and
environmental dimensions. He will also emphasize the importance of balanced
sector governance and highlight Spain’s national strategies to combat
seasonality, reduce tourism concentration, and promote digitalisation and
innovation in tourism.
The
official program began on May 28 with a welcoming reception for delegates at
the Alcázar of Segovia, hosted by the city and concluded by Minister Hereu’s
remarks. Thursday's agenda includes meetings of the UN Tourism Affiliate
Members and final preparations for the main plenary session on Friday.
This
high-level summit comes at a time of renewed momentum in global tourism.
According to UN Tourism’s latest barometer, international tourism has nearly
returned to pre-pandemic levels, with Spain reaching full recovery in 2023 and
setting new records in 2024. Projections for 2025 suggest a further 3–5% growth
in international arrivals.
Against
this backdrop, Spain aims to reinforce the modernization of the sector through
a focus on triple sustainability, business competitiveness, and equitable
benefit-sharing – core principles of its tourism policy and its role within the
UN Tourism framework.
The
Executive Council serves as the governing body of UN Tourism, responsible for
overseeing its operations and ensuring alignment with its approved budget. It
convenes at least twice a year and is composed of member states elected by the
General Assembly.
Image
Credit: © AA
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