DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has been chosen to host the 27th General Assembly of UN Tourism, the former World Tourism Organization, in 2027.

The decision was adopted by resolution during the three-day 26th General Assembly of the organization, held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia in November 2025 with the participation of 148 member states. Ninety ministers of tourism, including Dominican Tourism Minister David Collado and 70 ambassadors attended. The theme was artificial intelligence.

The 27th General Assembly will be the first under the leadership of Shaikha Al Nowais of Saudi Arabia as the UN Tourism Secretary-General, with her term beginning in January 2026. The appointment was confirmed on 9 November at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly.

Al Novais becomes the first woman to hold the position in the organization’s 50-year history. She replaces Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia whose second term ends this December 2025. At the end of his term, Pololikashvili honored...