UN Tourism Chief Praises Andorra as Mountain Tourism Leader During Official Visit

UN Tourism secretary-general Shaika Nasser Al Nuwais visited Andorra's Consell General and Casa de la Vall on Wednesday afternoon, praising the principality as a leading example in managing mountain tourism.

During the tour, hosted by síndics Carles Ensenyat and Sandra Codina, Al Nuwais explored the country's parliamentary history and expressed keen interest in Andorra's long democratic tradition and constitutional separation of powers. The group then held a short meeting to discuss tourism challenges in mountainous regions, with Al Nuwais emphasising Andorra's success in attracting high-quality visitors despite its limited size. She also stressed the importance of balancing tourism expansion with environmental sustainability.

The visit took place amid the 13th World Congress on Snow, Mountain and Wellness Tourism, held from Wednesday to Friday at the Andorra la Vella Congress Centre. Al Nuwais, the first woman to hold her position, also met with head of government Xavier Espot.

Espot welcomed her on social media, highlighting their shared view on developing more resilient and balanced tourism models. He described the congress as a key chance to promote environmentally responsible practices, aligning with sector demands and Andorra's sustainability ambitions.