The attached letter is from the former Secretaries General of the World Tourism Organization, Francesco Frangialli and Taleb Rifai, two of the most influential figures in the history of the World Tourism Organization [UNWTO].
Francesco Frangialli, a French economist, was Secretary-General of the UNWTO from 1997 to 2009. During his tenure, he spearheaded the transformation of the organisation into a specialised UN agency in 2004, strengthening its role in the sustainable development of tourism.
Taleb Rifai, a Jordanian architect and economist, served as UNWTO Secretary-General from 2010 to 2017. Under his leadership, tourism was consolidated as a key pillar in the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].
Both have championed transparency and good governance in the tourism sector, promoting an ethical and equitable approach to its global growth.
Tourism is one of the leading global economic activities, accounting for between 6% and 11% of world GDP and providing employment for millions of people. In 2024, 1.4 billion international arrivals will be recorded, generating US$1,900 trillion in revenues.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO] has been instrumental in the development of the sector since its founding in the 1970s, evolving in 2004 into a specialised agency of the United Nations.
Through this ‘open letter’, former Secretaries-General Francesco Frangialli and Taleb Rifai express their concerns about the management of the organisation since the election of Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili in 2017. In a joint statement, they analyse the legitimacy of his leadership, the administration of the institution and the representativeness of the UNWTO, concluding that it is time for a change.
Legitimacy of the current Secretary General
Pololikashvili’s election in 2017 was marked by irregularities, including the elimination of an African candidate in a questionable manner. His re-election in 2021 was also influenced by restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made fair competition difficult. Although the organisation’s rules limit terms to two four-year terms, the lack of formal ratification of this rule allows Pololikashvili to run for a third term, calling into question the integrity of the electoral process.
Weaknesses in UNWTO management
Since 2017, the management structure has changed in an arbitrary and inefficient manner. Initially, the Secretary-General shared responsibilities with a Deputy Secretary-General, but this was sidelined and replaced by three Executive Directors, resulting in a bureaucratic and costly administration.
The organisation has suffered from high staff turnover, with experienced staff replaced by new members selected under non-transparent criteria. Promotions and salary increases have been given to secure personal loyalties, increasing operating costs without justification. In addition, a report revealed that Pololikashvili hired an external firm to investigate employees considered adversaries, creating an atmosphere of mistrust and opacity within the organisation.
The UNWTO’s financial crisis is alarming, with a budget deficit due to high staff costs and declining support from member states. The organisation has lost attractiveness and value, leading several countries to delay or suspend their contributions.
Lack of representativeness and credibility
Despite 157 members, the UNWTO has lost key countries such as the UK, Norway, Australia and Canada. Pololikashvili failed to bring these countries back on board or to attract the US. Moreover, in 2022, the organisation expelled Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, a decision that was unprecedented within the UN system and further weakened the UNWTO’s influence.
The current administration has favoured Executive Council countries with promises of projects and regional offices that, in most cases, lack funding and substance. The proposal to move the headquarters from Madrid to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was an attempt to secure political support, but was rejected by the Spanish government.
Call for reform and new leadership
The authors insist on the need to restore the values of ethics, transparency and fairness to the UNWTO by proposing a leadership that guarantees equal treatment of all members, eliminates wasteful spending and restores the organisation’s credibility.
With elections coming up in May 2025, six candidates are running, with three viable options: the current secretary general, Gloria Guevara Manzo [Mexico], the one with the highest number of industry endorsements, and Harry Theoharis [Greece]. Frangialli and Rifai believe that re-electing Pololikashvili could lead to an institutional stalemate and dark ages of decisions and relations, as his leadership faces growing rejection.
Guevara and Theoharis, on the other hand, have governmental experience and, in Guevara’s case, a track record in the private and institutional sector where the common denominator has been success, which could strengthen collaboration between the UNWTO, countries and the tourism industry.
The report ends with a call to the countries participating in the Executive Council to be held in May to stop the institutional crisis of the UNWTO and to renew its leadership in the next elections. The future of global tourism depends on an organisation that is well managed, transparent and representative of the interests of all its members.
By Juergen Steinmetz