Throughout his time leading the region, Santos advanced an agenda focused on the gradual reactivation of tourism flows and on sustainability as a cross-cutting priority in public policy. His previous experience in public tourism management, combined with his knowledge of the region’s institutional landscape, enabled sustained engagement with governments, subregional bodies, and international entities at a time when multilateral cooperation was especially necessary. In a region where tourism is a vital source of employment, revenue, and territorial cohesion, these lines of work were positioned as key to fostering more balanced and inclusive development.
Santos’s departure takes on additional significance as it coincides with the imminent assumption of office by the new UN Tourism Secretary-General. Al Nowais, from the United Arab Emirates, was confirmed by acclamation in November 2025 and will officially take office in January 2026, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to lead the organization in nearly fifty years. Her appointment has been interpreted as a signal of institutional renewal and a commitment to leadership with a more diverse and inclusive vision aligned with the contemporary challenges of global tourism, underpinned by solid experience in the international hospitality sector.
The departure of the Regional Director for the Americas may also be viewed as an opportunity to reshape senior teams and potentially redefine regional priorities in line with the strategic direction the new Secretary-General will set. For Member States across the Americas, this transition occurs at a time when major structural challenges persist, including reducing territorial inequalities, mitigating tourism’s environmental impacts, and adapting to climate change.
From an institutional perspective, this transition invites an assessment of the progress achieved in recent years and the identification of areas where further work is needed. The timing of Gustavo Santos’s departure alongside the arrival of a new Secretary-General reinforces the perception that UN Tourism is entering a phase of change and redefinition. The near-term future of the Regional Directorate for the Americas will be decisive in ensuring continuity, strengthening Member States’ confidence, and advancing toward a more sustainable, innovative, and purpose-driven tourism sector, in line with the new orientations of the organization’s global leadership.
