Today, Ms Guevars was again loyal to her own country, Mexico. She is now trying to get the trust of the UN-Tourism Executive Council to vote for her to become the next Secretary General of this UN special agency, replacing the controversial head of this organization, Zurab Pololikashvil, starting January 2026.
Gloria Guevara tweeted today:
I thank the government of Mexico for its support and confidence in my candidacy for the General Secretariat of UN Tourism. Mexico is a tourism power whose commitment to the sector is recognized worldwide. I have worked for 35 years in tourism development, and supporting my country is a priority. Strengthening the Organization and increasing the value it offers to all its members at a global level is essential.
It is about Mexico having a place at the table of major decisions regarding tourism, and tourism makes its voice heard. I am very grateful for the support of the Mexican government, in particular Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and the Secretary of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez Zamora. It would be a great honor to be the first woman and Mexican to occupy this position,” said Guevara Manzo.
Gloria is competing so far with former Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis.
Also, Faouzou Deme from Senegal told eTurboNews that he would announce his candidacy for Senegal shortly and asked Africa to get ready and stand behind him.
Gloria Guevara, without a doubt, has the most experience in both the public and private sectors. She was proclaimed the most powerful woman when she served as CEO of WTTC before being offered a job to assist Saudi Arabia. WTTC represents the largest global private tourism sector companies.
The 123rd session of the UN-Tourism Executive Council will recommend a winner in Madrid, Spain, in its session on 29-30 May, 2025
The next UN Tourism General Assembly from October 16-20 will take place in Saudi Arabia, and this appointment will be finalized for a term starting on January 1, 2026.
Members Countries of the Executive Council
- Brazil First Vice-Chair:
- South Africa Second Vice-Chair:
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cabo Verde
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Dem Rep Congo
- Dominican Republic
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Greece
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Lithuania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Rep of Korea
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- Tanzania
- Zambia