Vanessa Theuriau, an writer and influencer for the Tourism Society, summarizes the dilemma that has poisoned UN-Tourism for the final two elections. The Tourism Society is the place people from throughout tourism come collectively (on-line and offline) for dialogue, debate, sharing of views and information, and networking.
eTurboNews’ in depth reporting on UN Tourism issues over 8 years lastly wakened those that appeared to have been in a deep sleep of ignorance, apart from some, akin to Bulgaria, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Georgia, …
Tourism Society speaks out in opposition to the UN Tourism Secretary Normal.
In her glorious article, Vanessa Theuriau writes for the Tourism Society and summarizes the dilemma this Madrid-based group is inflicting the world, all due to one man:
The re-election of Zurab Pololikashvili as head of the World Tourism Group (UN Tourism) has generated a rising worldwide controversy, particularly across the intensive use of official journey and the popularity of varied political, sports activities, and enterprise personalities in selling his candidacy.
In current months, the secretary basic’s agenda appears to have been fastidiously designed to coincide with nations whose representatives make up the influential Government Council. This key physique will resolve between Might 28 and 30 on his continuity on the head of the group.
For the reason that finish of 2024, Pololikashvili has notably elevated his worldwide travels, together with his participation in high-profile occasions held in nations with decisive weight within the election.
The China Instance
His presence in China in the course of the World Tourism Financial Discussion board (GTEF 2024) in Macau was notably vital amongst them. There, along with launching messages in regards to the restoration of worldwide tourism, he held non-public conferences with senior Chinese language officers and enterprise leaders, which analysts interpret as a key diplomatic maneuver to safe the political backing of one of many major powers represented on the Government Council.
FITUR
The same sample was noticed throughout his presence on the Worldwide Tourism Honest (FITUR) in Madrid, the place he not solely led the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of UN Tourism, but additionally introduced the opening of a brand new institutional headquarters in entrance of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Though it was introduced as an institutional advance, some sectors interpreted it as a symbolic gesture aimed toward gaining the assist of the Spanish authorities, which was traditionally influential throughout the group.
Strategic Visits to reap the benefits of Africa
To the agenda of strategic visits of the present secretary basic of the UN Tourism is now added an intense diplomatic offensive on the African continent. In March 2025, Zurab Pololikashvili visited Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, and different African nations, which, coincidentally, have the correct to vote within the Government Council to be held in Might. In all circumstances, the frequent denominator has been the assembly with Ministers of Tourism and senior authorities officers, to whom he has promised future actions that, in response to completely different sources, lack technical assist and, above all, financial viability, in a context marked by the deep monetary disaster that the group goes by means of.
These visits have been interpreted as a part of a technique to safe assist amongst African nations with voting rights on the Government Council, whose affect may very well be key within the Might election.
The African Sample works in different nations.
The Secretary Normal has additionally intensified his worldwide agenda with journeys to China, Japan, Lithuania, Georgia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan, and different nations with the identical sample because the one utilized in Africa.
Argentina and Brazil
Within the coming weeks, he plans to journey to Argentina and once more to Brazil, the place he’s the present chairman of the chief council, in addition to to different Latin American nations. On his go to to Argentina, he will probably be accompanied by the regional director for the Americas, the Argentine Gustavo Santos, a central determine in his technique to strengthen assist within the area.
On the similar time, the frequent appearances of public figures with controversial profiles at occasions organized or sponsored by UN Tourism have generated criticism. Specifically, the previous Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at current institutional occasions has attracted consideration. Zapatero is extensively identified for his closeness to and protection of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his political system.
This has generated concern in sectors that query the kind of references with which the group is publicly related. Some analysts have interpreted their presence as an try and enchantment to particular audiences inside Latin America, a key area within the stability of energy throughout the Government Council.
Utilizing outstanding personalities
The fixed inclusion of political, enterprise, sports activities, and cultural personalities in official occasions has generated suspicions about an instrumental use of UN Tourism’s institutional visibility to undertaking the picture of the present Secretary Normal. Though these figures are introduced as ambassadors or allies of tourism, their participation in strategically scheduled occasions, simply earlier than essential selections, casts doubt on the group’s neutrality.
These actions have raised issues about utilizing institutional sources to advertise their candidacy. Varied analysts and gamers within the tourism sector have warned that these practices may contravene the rules of ethics and impartiality that ought to govern the actions of any United Nations company.
The sample of conduct noticed—with official journeys concentrated in nations with direct affect within the electoral course of—raises doubts as as to if the group is getting used as a private platform. This might severely have an effect on the notion of UN Tourism as an neutral entity serving international tourism pursuits moderately than a selected agenda.
How will the UN-Tourism Government Council reply?
Because the election approaches, expectations are rising relating to how the Government Council will reply to those criticisms. Not solely is Zurab Pololikashvili’s continuity at stake, but additionally the credibility, legitimacy, and transparency of UN Tourism as a global group dedicated to common rules of fine governance.
Is that this all Moral?
On this context, the present Secretary Normal’s electoral technique leaves open a disturbing query: Is it ethically acceptable for the chief of a global group to make use of institutional sources and official occasions to strengthen his re-election marketing campaign? The choice of the Government Council in Might is not going to solely outline management but additionally set a precedent on the moral limits of administration in multilateral organizations.
… Manipulations are happening in Bulgaria
H.E. Miroslav Borshosh, Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister, was promised a wine tourism occasion subsequent 12 months by the UN Tourism Secretary Normal, who’s campaigning in Bulgaria utilizing UN sources and cash to afford this.
Surprisingly, this EU nation, which was simply allowed to affix the Schengen area, is placing itself within the highlight of disgrace for going together with a corrupt Zurab Pololikashvil. That is even supposing European moral laws wouldn’t enable a third-term election of a UN company high place, and with somebody who’s utilizing public cash to marketing campaign.
