Diplomatic Desk:
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has visited the headquarters of UN Tourism—the United Nations agency dedicated to tourism—located in Madrid, Spain. He was welcomed by the organization’s Secretary-General, Shaikha Al Nuais.
Taking place toward the end of his ten-year tenure as UN Secretary-General, this visit served as a significant acknowledgment of his leadership and long-standing commitment to international multilateral cooperation, sustainable development, and the advancement of the global tourism sector.
During the discussions held during the visit, both sides shared a common vision of leveraging tourism as an effective tool to strengthen international cooperation, unlock economic potential, and foster solidarity and prosperity among populations across the globe.
The meeting underscored the importance of harnessing the multifaceted potential of tourism to drive global development, create employment opportunities, and enhance mutual cooperation between nations.
This visit—the first time a UN Secretary-General has toured the UN Tourism headquarters—is regarded as a momentous and historic milestone in the organization’s history.
The visit reaffirmed a collective commitment to ensuring that the benefits of tourism are accessible to all, strengthening international cooperation, and empowering the tourism sector to play an even more effective role in advancing sustainable development.
