FITUR: Announcement of Theocharis' candidacy as Secretary-General of UN Tourism

With the slogan “reform to transform, unite to grow”, Haris Theocharis officially launched his candidacy for the position of secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism, this week, in the context of the FITUR exhibition conference in Madrid.

Mr. Theocharis will present his initiatives for greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency at UN Tourism in order to add greater value to Member States and the global tourism community.

Presenting his candidacy, Mr. Theocharis stated his intention to collectively bring prosperity and purpose to UN Tourism so that it becomes “an equitable, inclusive and regenerative force for good that its Member States truly represent and drives positive change across the sector.”

Referring to issues of transparency and disagreements among Member States, which have undermined the work and credibility of the UN on tourism in recent years, he said he is determined to return the governance of UN Tourism to its members. “UN Tourism is a United Nations agency and the Secretary-General must serve the interests of the members above his own. I will ensure that the governing bodies freely fulfill their role, uniting and empowering Member States to lead bold policies for shared prosperity and maximizing our contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

Mr. Theocharis’ top priority as Secretary-General will be to reform the organization to ensure greater transparency and accountability. This will be achieved through a series of initiatives to establish clear, measurable governance standards, publish regular reports, conduct independent audits, and launch a central, publicly accessible platform that will provide real-time data on project results, financial performance,e and progress toward goals.

Support from the African Tourism Council

Mr. Theocharis’ program and key initiatives Theocharis have already received enthusiastic support from Member States and multilateral tourism organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Last week, the African Tourism Council officially announced its support for Haris Theocharis as the candidate for UN Secretary-General for Tourism.

Mr. Theocharis’ commitment to Africa has focused on promoting investment, education, and sustainability while strengthening the continent’s share of the global tourism market. As Africa’s tourism prospects continue to grow, the African Tourism Council sees Mr. Theocharis as a key figure in promoting the continent’s interests globally.

This week, Mr. Theocharis will meet with several other tourism ministers at the FITUR exhibition, celebrating the 50th anniversary of UN Tourism.

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