UN Tourism is driving a new digital era with AI as the engine of the sector
During the 26th General Assembly held in Riyadh, the organisation presented the Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism, a global plan that promotes technological transformation, sustainability and inclusion as pillars of global tourism growth
At the 26th General Assembly of UN Tourism, held in Riyadh and attended by delegations from 148 Member States (including 90 tourism ministers and 70 ambassadors), a new direction for the industry was set. A session titled “AI-powered tourism: redefining the future” featured representatives from Microsoft, Amadeus IT Group, Trip.com Group and the World Economic Forum, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance competitiveness, data management and destination sustainability.
The Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism proposes concrete action lines: investing in digital infrastructure, reducing knowledge gaps, empowering local communities through innovation and ensuring that technological progress benefits the entire tourism ecosystem. Among the resolutions: the appointment of Shaikha Al Nowais as the next Secretary-General of UN Tourism (the first woman to hold the post, starting January 2026); the institutionalisation of the Africa & Americas Summit as a biennial meeting; and creation of a regional office in Shanghai.
The themes for upcoming World Tourism Days were defined: in 2026 “Digital agenda & artificial intelligence” (host country: El Salvador); in 2027 “Transforming tourism through education”.
With this roadmap, UN Tourism proposes a model in which technological innovation and human development advance in a balanced way, building a more resilient, inclusive sector prepared for the next decade’s challenges.
Source: UN Tourism.