Shaikha Al Nowais Makes History as First Woman Nominated for UN Tourism Secretary-General, ET TravelWorld

Image credit – UN Tourism Executive Council convened in Segovia, Spain, for its 123rd session, spotlighting leadership transition and sustained sectoral progress. Member States formally nominated Shaikha Al Nowais as the next Secretary-General of UN Tourism, effective January 2026—pending General Assembly confirmation. Her nomination marks a historic milestone, making her the first woman to lead the organisation in its five-decade history.

An Emirati business leader, Shaikha Al Nowais brings over 16 years of experience in hospitality, most recently as Corporate Vice President of Rotana Hotels. She chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group and serves on the boards of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Les Roches Hospitality Academy. Her nomination signals a step forward for gender representation in global tourism leadership.

The session also assessed progress made under outgoing Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, who reflected on eight years of transformation. “We have put tourism at the forefront of the global agenda to enhance its competitiveness and economic value,” he said. “Our priorities have remained clear—education, investment, rural development, women’s empowerment, and innovation.”

The May 2025 UN Tourism Barometer revealed that over 300 million tourists travelled internationally in the first quarter of the year, up by 14 million from 2024. Member States were briefed on advancements in data systems, sustainable tourism initiatives, and the expansion of the UN Tourism Online Academy.

The Council also announced the launch of the first UN Tourism Thematic Office on Innovation for Africa in Rabat, in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism. This office will support the UN Tourism 2030 Agenda for Africa by promoting innovation-led tourism as a vehicle for economic development across the region.

• Published On May 31, 2025 at 02:56 PM IST

Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals

Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis.

Download ETTravelWorld App

• Get Realtime updates
• Save your favourite articles

Scan to download App