UNWTO appoints new chief after debate on vote

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The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly on Thursday approved the nomination of Zurab Pololikashvili, Georgian ambassador to Spain, as its next secretary-general.

Pololikashvili was nominated as the chief of the 156-member organization in May during the 105th meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council in Madrid, to succeed Taleb Rifai, who will complete his two four-year terms.

Rifai stressed during Thursday's session that the selection was made "under clean and transparent circumstances."

Taleb Rifai speaks at the opening ceremony of the 22nd General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, September 13. /Xinhua Photo‍

During that session, Zimbabwe's push for a vote on the next UNWTO chief led to an open debate

Most delegates expressed their support for a vote to maintain unity.

"I was in favor of a vote... (but) It's better to show unified position and go back to consensus," which is "as legal as a vote," Rifai told a press conference after the session.

For his part, Pololikashvili pledged "productive" cooperation with Africa, vowing to "continue the work which was started by Rifai."

Pololikashvili highlighted one of UNWTO's priorities – to cooperate on special tourism projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.

The opening ceremony of 22nd General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) attracts senior tourism officials and senior representatives worldwide to attend in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, September 13. /Xinhua Photo

Rifai described the cooperation between UNWTO and China to be an important "strategic relationship," describing the two sides as "good partners."

More than 1,000 delegates attended the four-day biennial UNWTO meeting this year focused on sustainable development and tourism.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency