UN Tourism Announces First Woman Secretary-General at 123rd Executive Council Meeting

123rd UN Tourism Executive Council. Photo source: UN Tourism

The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) recently held its 123rd session in Segovia, Spain, marking a milestone as it reflected on eight years of progress and looked ahead with the historic nomination of Shaikha Al Nowais as the next Secretary-General.

Upon confirmation by the UN Tourism General Assembly, Al Nowais will become the first woman to lead the organization in its 50-year history.

During the session, the Council assessed advancements made around key priorities such as innovation, investments, education, and sustainability, all aimed at building a more resilient and inclusive global tourism sector. These discussions followed encouraging data from the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer, which reported over 300 million international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 – an increase of 14 million compared to the same period in 2024.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Photo source: UN Tourism

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the organization’s transformative vision over the past eight years.

“We have placed tourism at the forefront of the global agenda to enhance competitiveness and economic value, focusing on education, investments, sustainable development, women empowerment, new technologies, and international expansion,” he said.

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Corporate VP at Rotana Hotels. Photo source: UN Tourism

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, an Emirati business leader with over 16 years in global hospitality, currently serves as Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels. She oversees owner relations across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. A graduate of Zayed University in Finance, Al Nowais chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group and holds board positions at the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Les Roches Hospitality Academy.

The Council also celebrated key achievements under Pololikashvili’s leadership, including the expansion of tourism data systems, rural tourism programs like the Best Tourism Villages initiative, new ventures in gastronomy and urban tourism, and the integration of artificial intelligence and social innovation into the UN Tourism agenda.

Looking ahead, the Council announced the establishment of a Thematic Office on Innovation for Africa in Rabat, Morocco. This new office aims to advance UN Tourism’s 2030 Agenda for Africa by positioning tourism as a driver of development through innovation.

With Shaikha Al Nowais’ nomination, UN Tourism signals a historic step toward greater diversity and continued progress in shaping the future of global tourism.

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