<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares met on Tuesday, January 13, with the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Al Nowais, to whom he conveyed Spain's commitment to "sustainable tourism that generates prosperity."</strong></h4> "I met in Madrid with the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Al Nowais," Albares wrote on social media. "I conveyed to her Spain's commitment to multilateralism, the United Nations, and UN Tourism," he continued. "We will work together for sustainable tourism that generates prosperity," he concluded. The meeting took place at the Ministry's headquarters in the Palacio de Viana, Madrid. Shaikha Al Nowais, from the United Arab Emirates, won the election for Secretary-General of UN Tourism last May during the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, held at the Royal Site of San Ildefonso in La Granja (Segovia). Her appointment was ratified last November by the organization's General Assembly, held in Saudi Arabia. She is the first woman to head UN Tourism, a United Nations agency that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and is headquartered in Madrid. She succeeds Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia, who served two consecutive terms as head of the agency. Pololikashvili had attempted to run for a third term, but his candidacy was hampered in the final stretch of the campaign by the unexpected decision of his country's government to withdraw its support (without clarifying the reasons). At the previous General Assembly, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in October 2023, he managed to retain his position despite the opposition of Spain, among other countries. The minister's meeting with Shaikha Al Nowais took place just days before FITUR, the most influential international tourism trade fair, which will be held at IFEMA in Madrid from January 21 to 25. This annual event brings together key decision-makers, leading companies, international destinations, and visitors interested in discovering the latest tourism trends.
