The selection process starts with the Executive Council, which comprises 35 member countries
The Executive Council of UN Tourism is set to meet in Madrid on May 29-30, to recommend a new Secretary-General, who will who will lead the organisation from 2026-2029 after taking over from the current officeholder, Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia.
Pololikashvili has held the position since 2018, following the two-term leadership of Taleb Rifai, a Jordanian businessman and politician who served from 2009. The final decision will be made at the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh this November.
The selection process starts with the Executive Council, which comprises 35 member countries, putting forward a recommendation, which must be approved by a simple majority, 50 pc in addition to one of the valid votes cast during a private session. If no candidate gains the necessary majority in the initial round, additional rounds of voting are held between the top contenders until one secures a majority.
India is one of the current members of the Executive Council, which is elected for a term of four years. Brazil is the current chair of the governing body of UN Tourism.
This year the candidates include Gloria Guevara from Mexico, a business executive and former Secretary of Tourism. She also served as President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Her campaign focusses on restoring the organisation’s global credibility, promoting sustainable development, creating jobs and enhancing UN Tourism’s leadership in shaping international tourism policy.
Also in the running is Harry Theoharis, a Greek politician and former Minister of Tourism. In his manifesto, he has suggested widening UN Tourism’s membership to include countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Another contender is Muhammad Adam, a diplomat who has represented Ghana as ambassador to Spain and Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While details of his campaign are limited, strong national support suggests he aims to raise Africa’s profile in the global tourism sector.
Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, currently Director of Internal Audit at Rotana Management Corporation PJSC, in the United Arab Emirates, has also joined the race. With a background in business and auditing, Al Nowais offers a corporate perspective on the future of UN Tourism.
The final candidate is Tunisia’s Habib Ammar, a tourism expert credited with helping to shape and grow Tunisia’s travel industry.
All candidates for the position of the Secretary General must be nominated by their respective governments and the UN Tourism does not follow any rotational principle in election to the top position, unlike its parent organisation.
However, it may be time for an African candidate to lead the organisation which has had representatives from Europe, Asia and the Americas in the past, but never an African.
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