Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Pololikashvili set to continue as UNWTO chief

The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has expressed its continued support for Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialised agency for four more years.
 
At the end of the 113th session of the Executive Council, held as a hybrid event in Spanish capital, members voted in person and in secret for their choice of leader for 2022-2025. Incumbent Pololikashvili won 76 per cent of the votes in a process where Bahrain also put forward a candidate for the position, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.
 
Her Excellency congratulated Pololikashvili on his win and the Government of Bahrain expressed its support for UNWTO, said a UNWTO statement.
 
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.
 
In Madrid, both the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and His Majesty King Felipe VI expressed their support for UNWTO and its leadership. The Secretary-General has also laid the foundations for seizing the momentum of the rollout of vaccines to ensure a harmonised approach to the return of safe and seamless international travel. - TradeArabia News Service