UN Tourism and The Bench have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Madrid, formalising a strategic partnership to strengthen global tourism investment, innovation, and education.
The agreement was
signed by Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, and Ali Shahid,
CEO of The Bench, building on years of collaboration, including recent
engagement at FHS Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
The partnership
establishes a framework to promote sustainable tourism development and deepen
public-private cooperation.
It aims to support
entrepreneurship, accelerate startup growth, and unlock new investment
opportunities across international markets.
Using The Bench’s
Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) platforms, the collaboration will deliver
high-level investor and policy dialogues, innovation-led initiatives, and
knowledge-sharing programmes designed to support the long-term evolution of the
tourism and hospitality sectors.
Key areas of focus
include tourism investment promotion, innovation ecosystems, and expanded
global engagement through joint forums and initiatives.
The MoU also outlines
early strategic actions such as creating a joint Investment Facilitation
Mechanism within FHS events, introducing dedicated UN Tourism investment and
policy sessions, and developing a Global Tourism Investment Pipeline.
“Potential exists in
every destination. But potential only becomes opportunity when people choose to
invest in it,” said Shaikha Al Nuwais. “Through this partnership, UN Tourism and The
Bench will bring together the ideas, capital and partnerships needed to unlock
tourism’s full contribution to economic growth, community development and long
term resilience.”
Ali Shahid commented: “At The Bench, we
believe meaningful progress happens when governments, investors, and industry
leaders come together with shared purpose. This collaboration with UN Tourism
represents an exciting opportunity to help drive innovation, facilitate investment,
and create long-term positive impact for the global tourism industry.”
Overall, the
partnership is positioned to align global stakeholders, improve investment
readiness, and accelerate sustainable growth across the tourism industry
through structured collaboration and shared platforms. -TradeArabia News Service
