The UN Tourism General Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Professor Marina Novelli as the new Chair of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.
UN Tourism has partnered with UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle (UMHL), the entertainment-driven hospitality venture powered by Universal Music Group (UMG) and the Centre for Music Ecosystems (CME) to harness the power of music tourism to drive economic growth and job creation, with a focus on high-growth-potential economies.
UN Tourism has concluded the biggest General Assembly in its 50-year history, confirming new leadership, and announcing a shared vision for innovation and Artificial Intelligence.
Shaikha Al Nowais of the UAE has been confirmed as the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism by the organisation’s General Assembly, which is currently meeting in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia will host the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh from November 7 to 11, under the theme "AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future." The session coincides with the 50th anniversary of the agency's founding.
UN Tourism has joined together public and private sector actors to commit to take concrete steps to advance women’s empowerment in tourism. The “Almaty Call to Action” comes out of the First Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Europe and women’s empowerment workshops which have taken place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
UN Tourism has launched its first Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on rural tourism, featuring two courses: "Product Development and Marketing for Rural Areas" and "Design Thinking for Rural Tourism Development," under the Tourism for Rural Development Programme.
Masfout in the Emirate of Ajman was announced and recognised as one of the world's Best Tourism Village (BTV) by the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) during a special ceremony in Huzhou City, China.
On World Food Day, UN Tourism, TUI Care Foundation and the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) of the University of Cambridge, have launched Tourism Food for Good, a new global initiative to co-create sustainable and circular food systems across the tourism value chain.
Abdullah Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasised enhancing cooperation and partnerships with UN Tourism, exchanging expertise across tourism sectors. He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais at FITUR Madrid 2026.
