Natalia Bayona

Director of Innovation, Education and Investments, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Natalia Bayona leads the innovation, education and investment strategy of UNWTO, the UN specialized agency for the promotion of sustainable tourism. With a diverse background on politics, destination management and business, she has become the first innovation director at UNWTO, has introduced entrepreneurship and education as key factors for tourism and development, and has positioned UNWTO as an innovation benchmark within the wider United Nations system as recognized by the UN Chief Executive Board (CEB) in 2020. Her work consists of identifying the most disruptive startups and investment projects and matching them with the Member States and leading corporations.

As an advocate of youth and technology, she seeks to make entrepreneurs grow for a promising future in all regions. Natalia Bayona leads the innovation, education and investment strategy of UNWTO, the UN specialized agency for the promotion of sustainable tourism. With a diverse background on politics, destination management and business, she has become the first innovation director at UNWTO, has introduced entrepreneurship and education as key factors for tourism and development, and has positioned UNWTO as an innovation benchmark within the wider United Nations system as recognized by the UN Chief Executive Board (CEB) in 2020. Her work consists on identifying the most disruptive startups and investment projects and matching them with the Member States and leading corporations. As an advocate of youth and technology, she seeks to make entrepreneurs grow for a promising future in all regions.