Spain Hosts 123rd Meeting of UN Tourism Executive Council to Nominate New Secretary-General

International

High-level gathering in La Granja (Segovia) highlights Spain’s leadership in sustainable tourism and UN Tourism’s 50th anniversary

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.