Zurab Pololikashvili, current Ambassador of Georgia to Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Andorra, has been appointed Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization [UNWTO] for the period 2018-2021.
The candidature of Zurab Pololikashvili was presented by his country, Georgia, in accordance with the UNWTO statutes.
Zurab Pololikashvili was elected by consensus at the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly being held in Chengdu, China, following the recommendation of the 105th UNWTO Executive Council.
On his confirmation, Pololikashvil said this was a vote of friendship, and thanked Taleb Rifai for his work and China for being a gracious host.
Also elected was Nigeria, represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, as Vice President of the United Nations World Tourism Organization [UNWTO] General Assembly.
Nigeria was elected by acclamation to represent Africa, alongside Cape Verde, at the 22nd General Assembly of the UNWTO, which opened in Chengdu, China, on Wednesday. China was elected President of the Assembly.
Nigeria’s election followed the country’s unopposed nomination by the UNWTO Commission on Africa [CAF], which met a day earlier.
Reacting to Nigeria’s election, the Minister said: ”To be called upon to serve as a Vice President of the General Assembly of the UNWTO is a very big honour to Nigeria.
”It has proven one thing, that in the last two years, we have succeeded in pushing tourism and the Creative Industry as a whole from the back burner to the front burner. From a side issue to the main issue. This has also been noticed by the global community and I feel highly gratified by it.”
Nigeria, which will serve on the UNWTO General Assembly until 2019, will host the 61st edition of the UNWTO CAF Meeting in Abuja 4th-6th June 2018.