Press Release
Tourism Ministers Applaud Call for a UN Tourism Global Resilience Fund Under Leadership of Harry Theoharis as Secretary-General
Negril, Jamaica – February 18, 2025 – At this week’s Global Tourism Resilience Conference, hosted by Jamaican Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Tourism Ministers from around the world rallied behind the call for the establishment of a UN Tourism Global Resilience Fund, championed by Harry Theoharis, should he be elected Secretary-General in May this year.
Theoharis, widely recognized for his leadership in crisis management and commitment to sustainable tourism, was lauded for his impassioned call for unity, real-world solutions, and a focus on the equitable delivery of tangible results in rebuilding and strengthening the global tourism sector in the face of ongoing challenges. His vision for a resilient global tourism sector, based on transparent collaboration and solidarity among the 160 member states of UN Tourism, was one of the highlights of this meeting of tourism leaders. After outlining the critical steps toward strengthening the industry’s future and providing economic stability to millions, he received endorsements and support from delegates worldwide, particularly those from Africa and the Caribbean, who are on the frontline of extreme weather crises and have been critical of UN Tourism for its lack of unity, solidarity, and action.
Three key points made by the leading candidate for Secretary-General stood out and were met with the loudest applause and approval from the dignitaries present:
1.Economic Empowerment for Workers
Theoharis emphasized the urgent need for tourism employees to have more money in their pockets, job security, and a respectable living wage. His remarks resonated deeply with ministers, as he called for better conditions and improved financial security for workers across the tourism industry. The candidate’s notion that a strong tourism sector is only sustainable when the people who power it are valued resounded with delegates and was echoed by delegates as central to any future tourism resilience strategy.
2.Unity Over Division
Stressing the importance of collaboration, Theoharis called on governments, tourism bodies, and industry leaders to work together without infighting. His call for unity among the global tourism community was hailed as a vital message for overcoming current global challenges, often exacerbated by the divisive leadership of multilateral organizations such as UN Tourism. When asked about why UN Tourism had not been able to adopt a unified approach to crises, Harry Theoharis preferred to look forward and avoid criticizing other candidates for Secretary-General. “The time for fragmentation is over. It is time to unite, focus on the task ahead, and act in the best interests of our industry and its people,” Theoharis asserted.
3.The UN Tourism Global Resilience Fund
Most notably, Theoharis outlined his vision for a UN Tourism Global Resilience Fund, aimed at helping vulnerable tourism-dependent nations and communities weather future crises. His confidence in being the best-suited leader to bring this initiative to life is supported by his successful leadership in restoring Greece’s post-pandemic visitor economy faster than almost any other country. This vision was met with broad endorsement from the attending ministers. With his proven track record and deep understanding of the sector, Theoharis pledged to take concrete steps to implement the fund, ensuring it not only exists but thrives under his leadership.
4.Call for a Global Data Centre for Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management
The theme for the conference was Building Tourism Resilience Through Digital Transformation. As the only potential leader of UN Tourism with a degree in software engineering and years of experience leading the digital transformation of complex private and public sector organizations, Mr. Theoharis’ proposal to transform UN Tourism’s effectiveness in supporting all member states equally through the creation of a global digital data center and data-led crisis management protocol was unanimously applauded by the conference delegates. Many of them will be casting their vote for choosing the next Secretary-General of UN Tourism in May.
In his closing remarks, Theoharis reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on his vision and making the Tourism Global Resilience Fund and Global Resilience Data Centre a reality. “The tourism sector is more than just an industry; it is the backbone of many nations, economies, and people’s livelihoods. With the support of the global community, we will ensure its resilience and success for generations to come,” he concluded.
