The UN Tourism General Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Professor Marina Novelli as the new Chair of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.
Professor Novelli's
nomination was approved by Member States during the Assembly, marking the
beginning of her four-year term as Chair.
Professor Novelli is
an acknowledged expert in tourism and international development and serves as
the Director of the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre at
Nottingham University Business School.
She brings extensive
experience in sustainable tourism policy, planning, and development, all
grounded in ethical principles and practices. In her role, she will lead the
Committee's work to actively promote responsible, sustainable, and universally
accessible tourism.
She will also oversee
the implementation of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and
provide guidance on ethical issues in tourism.
"It is a great honour
to be entrusted with this role," said Professor Novelli. "Together
with the Committee members, I look forward to advancing ethical principles that
ensure tourism continues to be a force for good—benefiting people, communities,
and the planet."
UN Tourism
Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, congratulated Professor Novelli on her
appointment, stating: "With her deep and diverse expertise and strong
commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism, Professor Novelli will guide the
Committee's efforts to ensure the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism remains a
living instrument shaping the future of our sector."
With her deep and
diverse expertise and strong commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism,
Professor Novelli will guide the Committee's efforts to ensure the Global Code
of Ethics for Tourism remains a living instrument shaping the future of our
sector
New Committee
Members Confirmed
The World Committee on
Tourism Ethics is the independent body responsible for interpreting, applying,
and evaluating the provisions of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for
Tourism and the Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, once it enters into force.
It works to promote responsible conduct across the tourism sector and to
monitor implementation of ethical principles worldwide.
At the same session,
the General Assembly approved the following new members of the Committee:
Full Members
- Nancy MEJÍA Bonifazi, Executive Director, Guatemalan Tourism
Chamber
- Eliana JANINEH, General Manager, Jordanian Restaurant
Association
- Mokganedi NTANA, Environment and Eco-certification
Manager, Botswana Tourism Organization
- Michaela REITTERER, Owner and CEO, Boutique Hotel Stadthalle
- Amol Bobby TITUS, CEO, PT Indonesia Wise
Alternate Members
- Mekhak APRESYAN, President, Armenian Tourism Federation
- Almudena GONZÁLEZ Gutiérrez de León, Lecturer and Researcher, Saxion
University of Applied Sciences
- Maria NCHAMA NZOHO, Director General of Tourism Policies, Ministry of Tourism and Infrastructure, Equatorial Guinea -TradeArabia News Service