Harry Theoharis Launches Candidacy for Secretary-General of UN Tourism at FITUR 2025
This week at the FITUR 2025 tourism conference in Madrid, Harry Theoharis officially launched his candidacy for Secretary-General of UN Tourism, under the powerful slogan "reform to transform, unite to grow." Theoharis, who has extensive experience in organizational and technological transformation within the public sector, outlined his plans to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency at UN Tourism, aiming to create more value for member states and the global tourism community.
In introducing his candidacy, Theoharis emphasized the importance of collaboration, proclaiming, "Together, we will make UN Tourism more prosperous and meaningful—a fair, inclusive force for good that truly represents its member states and fosters positive change throughout the sector." Addressing ongoing issues of transparency and divisions among member states that have undermined both the work and credibility of UN Tourism in recent years, he presents himself as a bridge-builder, determined to restore governance to the agency's members.
"UN Tourism is a United Nations agency, and the Secretary-General must serve the interests of the members before personal interests," Theoharis stated. He pledged to ensure that governance bodies can freely fulfill their roles, uniting and empowering member states to develop bold policies that promote shared prosperity, all while maximizing the contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Theoharis's primary focus as Secretary-General would be to reform the organization to guarantee greater transparency and accountability. This would involve implementing several initiatives aimed at establishing clear and measurable governance standards and indicators, publishing regular reports, conducting independent audits, and launching a centralized platform accessible to the public, offering real-time data on project outcomes, financial performance, and progress towards set goals.
His program and key initiatives have already garnered enthusiastic support from member states and multinational tourism organizations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Recently, the African Tourism Board officially announced its backing of Theoharis's candidacy for the Secretary-General position. Theoharis has demonstrated a commitment to Africa by focusing on promoting investment, education, and sustainability while increasing the continent's market share in global tourism. As Africa's tourism potential continues to rise, the African Tourism Board sees Theoharis as a crucial figure in advocating for the continent's interests on the global stage.
This week, he is also meeting with tourism ministers from various other countries at FITUR in Madrid. "I look forward to meeting many of my colleagues from member states as we collectively celebrate the 50th anniversary of UN Tourism here in Madrid. As a global reference for good tourism practices and the headquarters of UN Tourism, Spain has much to offer our global community, and I am eager to enhance the collaboration between UN Tourism and the hosting member state," he expressed enthusiastically.
Theoharis’s candidacy is already being viewed as a pivotal moment in the tourism sector, with many hopeful that his vision will reinvigorate UN Tourism and align it more closely with the goals and needs of its member states. His dedication to effective governance and sustainable tourism underscores the significance of the role of Secretary-General, especially in light of the challenges posed by the rapidly evolving global tourism landscape. Only time will tell how his proposals will shape the future of UN Tourism, but for now, he stands ready to advocate for a brighter, more inclusive future for tourism worldwide.
In introducing his candidacy, Theoharis emphasized the importance of collaboration, proclaiming, "Together, we will make UN Tourism more prosperous and meaningful—a fair, inclusive force for good that truly represents its member states and fosters positive change throughout the sector." Addressing ongoing issues of transparency and divisions among member states that have undermined both the work and credibility of UN Tourism in recent years, he presents himself as a bridge-builder, determined to restore governance to the agency's members.
"UN Tourism is a United Nations agency, and the Secretary-General must serve the interests of the members before personal interests," Theoharis stated. He pledged to ensure that governance bodies can freely fulfill their roles, uniting and empowering member states to develop bold policies that promote shared prosperity, all while maximizing the contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Theoharis's primary focus as Secretary-General would be to reform the organization to guarantee greater transparency and accountability. This would involve implementing several initiatives aimed at establishing clear and measurable governance standards and indicators, publishing regular reports, conducting independent audits, and launching a centralized platform accessible to the public, offering real-time data on project outcomes, financial performance, and progress towards set goals.
His program and key initiatives have already garnered enthusiastic support from member states and multinational tourism organizations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Recently, the African Tourism Board officially announced its backing of Theoharis's candidacy for the Secretary-General position. Theoharis has demonstrated a commitment to Africa by focusing on promoting investment, education, and sustainability while increasing the continent's market share in global tourism. As Africa's tourism potential continues to rise, the African Tourism Board sees Theoharis as a crucial figure in advocating for the continent's interests on the global stage.
This week, he is also meeting with tourism ministers from various other countries at FITUR in Madrid. "I look forward to meeting many of my colleagues from member states as we collectively celebrate the 50th anniversary of UN Tourism here in Madrid. As a global reference for good tourism practices and the headquarters of UN Tourism, Spain has much to offer our global community, and I am eager to enhance the collaboration between UN Tourism and the hosting member state," he expressed enthusiastically.
Theoharis’s candidacy is already being viewed as a pivotal moment in the tourism sector, with many hopeful that his vision will reinvigorate UN Tourism and align it more closely with the goals and needs of its member states. His dedication to effective governance and sustainable tourism underscores the significance of the role of Secretary-General, especially in light of the challenges posed by the rapidly evolving global tourism landscape. Only time will tell how his proposals will shape the future of UN Tourism, but for now, he stands ready to advocate for a brighter, more inclusive future for tourism worldwide.
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