New UN Tourism Affiliate Members Board

08-11-25

Within the framework of UN Tourism’s 26th General Assembly held in Riyadh, the Affiliate Members today elected their new board. According to information shared by participants in the plenary—and pending the Organization’s official communiqué—Patrick Torrent, representing NECSTouR – The Network of European Regions for a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism, was elected president. Elected as vice presidents were Horacio Repucci, representing the Argentine Chamber of Tourism, and Abdullah Alhagbani, representing the Saudi Tourism Authority.

The election took place during the 45th Plenary of Affiliate Members, part of the General Assembly’s program taking place this week in Riyadh, a gathering that has brought together public and private delegations from across the global tourism ecosystem. From the start of the day, the agenda focused on public–private collaboration, innovation, and the role of artificial intelligence in destination management, in line with the strategic priorities set by UN Tourism for the next biennium. The Affiliate Members’ meeting is also the forum that determines the representation of the private sector and academia before the governing bodies, reinforcing its advisory role alongside the Organization’s Secretary-General.

Patrick Torrent—who has extensive experience leading the Catalan Tourist Board and is closely linked to NECSTouR—brings well-known European expertise in sustainability, competitiveness, and multi-level tourism governance. His election underscores the relevance of European regions in shaping policies for a more resilient and greener tourism model.

For his part, Horacio Repucci embodies the perspective of Latin American business chambers, with a focus on coordinating tourism SMEs, connectivity, and destination promotion.

Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alhagbani—an executive responsible for partnerships and regulatory affairs at the Saudi Tourism Authority—will strengthen the bridge with the dynamic Middle Eastern market, a central player in investment, product development, and major industry events.

Patrick Torrent, new president of the UN Tourism (UNWTO) Affiliate Members Board

The new board is tasked with supporting the Affiliate Members network—which brings together companies, industry associations, destinations, universities, and innovation centers—in defining the 2026–2029 Work Programme, channeling projects, pilots, and best practices that accelerate tourism’s digital and sustainable transition. Priority tasks include strengthening knowledge exchange among regions, attracting investment toward high-value, low-impact experiences, and ensuring the private sector’s voice is present in the deliberations of the Executive Council and the General Assembly. These objectives align with the push for public–private collaboration highlighted by UN Tourism during today’s sessions in Riyadh.

In recent days, Riyadh has consolidated its position as the epicenter of international tourism debate by simultaneously hosting the 124th and 125th sessions of the Executive Council and a thematic agenda centered on AI applied to tourism. The presence of more than 160 delegations, ministers, and industry leaders underscores the sector’s current expansion, with Saudi Arabia playing a prominent role in attracting investment and developing new products. In this context, the formation of the new Affiliate Members board takes on strategic importance to accelerate flagship projects and build bridges between regions and source markets.

Pending the publication of the electoral record and the complete list of regional board seats—documentation that UN Tourism routinely releases after each process—the line-up announced today points to a results-oriented stage with geographic balance and a firm commitment to cross-sector collaboration.

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