Georgia’s candidate for UNWTO top job presented in Spain

Spain’s capital Madrid has hosted an official ceremony where Georgia presented its candidate for the vacant post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for 2018-2021.

The ceremony was held last night as part of the election campaign of Georgia's candidate Zurab Pololikashvili to Secretary General of the UNWTO. 

The event was attended by Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, the outgoing UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai, Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism Matilde Asían, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze, representatives of diplomatic corps, as well as political cultural and business communities of Spain.

Outgoing UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai welcomed the Georgian delegation and said candidate Pololikashvili had already shared his visions with Rifai.

I have been the UNWTO Secretary General for almost seven years. Now my mandate expires and I do hope the best candidate would continue my job here, who would further increase the importance of this organisation worldwide,” said Rifai.

High officials attended the election campaign of Georgia’s candidate Zurab Pololikashvili to Secretary General of the UNWTO in Madrid. Photo by Georgia's Foreign Ministry's press office.

At the ceremony Georgia's Foreign Minister Janelidze delivered a speech where he talked about the steps taken by the Georgian Government for the development of tourism and he stressed the tremendous role of the UNWTO in this process. 

He also highlighted the UNWTO’s role in economic growth and inclusive advancement of Georgia.

Janelidze believed Georgia's candidate Pololikashvili would make a significant contribution to the achievement of ambitious aims and goals of the UNWTO.

Pololikashvili currently served as Resident Representative of Georgia at UNWTO and Ambassador of Georgia to Spain.

The Secretary General position at the UNWTO for 2018-2021 will be selected in May 2017 by an Executive Board comprised of 33 nations.