A big loss for UN Tourism, and a tremendous gain for Italy. This was the comment by a prominent tourism leader after it became clear that Alessandra Priante is leaving her powerful position at Madrid-based UN Tourism, formerly the World Tourism Organization to move back home to Rome to lead Italy’s national tourism board.

Her goal at UN Tourism was the promote responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism in Europe. Due to the autocratic leadership of the UN Tourism Secretary General anyone else trying to lead this organization faces more challenges.

Alessandra Priante and her global experience within the former UNWTO will be a gain for Italy’s global standing and national policy creation implementation in the travel and tourism industry of this EU country.

She will be leading a newly structured Italian National Tourism Board, ENIT.

Allesandra has a strong academic background and an Executive MBA from LUISS Business School, as well as a European Master in Audiovisual Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University.

She developed a solid and recognized competence in strategy, finance, management, communication, and international relations, as well as a deep knowledge of the tourism sector and its challenges and opportunities.

She is fluent in six languages, including English, French, and Arabic, and has a proven track record of successful negotiations, partnerships, and fundraising at national and international levels.

Allesandra is also a friend of SKAL, the oldest travel and tourism organization in the world aiming to do business with friends.

Her appointment at ENIT has not yet been officially announced, but according to numerous sources is expected. It was confirmed by the Dagospia portal. ENIT is in the process of becoming a public company in Italy together with the government in a joint stock company.

In 2022 Ivana Jelinic was appointed as CEO of ENIT.