Globally renowned institutions and academics endorse Gloria Guevara for UN Tourism Secretary-General | Gloria Guevara, leading candidate for Secretary-General of UN Tourism, has received the formal endorsement of a wide coalition of leading academics and from global institutions — the only candidate in the race to secure such broad backing from both the academic and tourism sectors.
In a public letter of support, professors, deans, and senior scholars from globally renowned institutions — including Cornell University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Stanford University, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong — praised Guevara’s commitment to evidence-based policy, youth empowerment, and sustainable tourism development. This new endorsement builds on the more than 200 tourism leaders who have already declared their support for her campaign.
Guevara’s mission has been clear since the beginning of her campaign and is aligned with the principles embraced by global academia and the students that they empower – to uphold values of integrity, honesty and transparency for the benefit of all. Guevara has pledged to restore good governance and protect UN Tourism values while unlocking the full power of tourism as a driver of sustainable development and shared prosperity.
The academic signatories commended Guevara’s forward-thinking leadership and her long-standing collaboration with academia to develop toolkits, best practices, and sustainability frameworks that shape policy and drive tourism innovation at every level. This includes her past work with Harvard University’s School of Public Health, focusing on sustainable tourism initiatives, environmental health, and the development of innovation ecosystems.
“Throughout my career, I’ve believed deeply in the power of partnerships between government, business, and academia,” said Gloria Guevara. “This endorsement is a powerful validation of our shared vision to ensure that tourism becomes a force for good — empowering youth, supporting local communities, and delivering long-term prosperity for all.”
This latest endorsement aligns strongly with Guevara’s key priorities, including: Engaging and empowering youth as active participants and future leaders of the sector ; Using data-driven strategies to increase resilience and competitiveness; and Ensuring that tourism delivers benefits to all — people, planet, and communities alike.
Furthermore, Guevara’s commitment to fostering the next generation of tourism leaders extends to her work in Saudi Arabia, where she sponsored students to learn about climate and sustainable tourism, connecting them with opportunities to contribute to a more responsible future for the industry.
John Quelsh, American President and Executive Vice Chancellor, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China stated: “Gloria Guevara emphasizes multi-sector partnerships and evidence-based decision-making in all her leadership roles. To solve global challenges in the travel and tourism sector, she always strives to engage university professors and students in win-win collaborations.”
Dr. Stephan Engelkamp, Senior Lecturer in International Relations Education, DWS Deputy Director Education, Department of War Studies, King’s College London, said: “Gloria Guevara is an inspiring leader who values sustainable change to make the world a better place. As Chief Special Advisor at the Saudi Tourism Ministry, Gloria’s youth initiative gave students from King’s College London the once in a life-time opportunity to engage decision-makers and global leaders in the conversation on sustainable travel for a better future. I wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy as Secretary-General of UN Tourism.”
Dr. Xiang Li, Fung King Hey Memorial Professor of Tourism Management; Director, School of Hotel & Tourism Management, CUHK Business School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, stated: “Gloria embodies the leader the world’s tourism industry needs today. Her global vision, extensive network, strategic acumen, and genuine empathy equip her to grasp the industry’s most urgent needs and challenges, and to navigate the nuanced complexities of the international landscape. I look forward to her leading UN Tourism to the next level of success.”
Globally renowned institutions and academics endorse Gloria Guevara for UN Tourism Secretary-General | AviationGhana
