Members have voted to re-elect Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO] at its 113th Executive Council Meeting for another four years.
The election held in the Spanish capital, members voted in person and in secret for their choice of leader for 2022-2025 of which the incumbent won 76 percent of the votes, defeating the Kingdom of Bahrain candidate, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.
Pololikashvili had based his campaign for re-election both on the progressive institutional and policy reforms undertaken during his first term, and on his clear leadership of global tourism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Council’s recommendation will be carried forward to the 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, due to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, towards the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the Global Tourism Crisis Committee has met for the first time in 2021. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO], the cross-sector body met in Madrid during the 113th session of the UNWTO Executive Council to advance solid plans to restart tourism.
The meeting focused on the integration of vaccines into a harmonised approach to safe travel and launching a coordinated effort to boost confidence in the sector.
Members highlighted the importance of stepping up coordination, within the framework of the International Health Regulations, of vaccination certificates to ensure the implementation of common, harmonised digital-related travel principles, protocols, and documents.