“After I received on the airplane, I noticed the choice of the deep rats… Kobakhidze ought to come out and say what he exchanged my candidacy for,” UN-Tourism secretary basic Zurab Pololikashvili stated in response to his Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, not permitting him to run for a 3rd time period for this UN place, now not being appointed by the Republic of Georgia.
Pololikashvili is fuming, however this transfer by the PM is applauded in international locations worldwide because the Republic of Georgia demonstrates its help for UN rules of rotation and variety. When Zurab stepped off a airplane, he was confronted with this information and instructed a reporter of Georgian mtavari.television his Prime Minister was a Deep Rat.
Pololikashvili and his UN-Tourism authorized division heard it firsthand: His authorities now not helps his candidacy for Secretary Common of UN-Tourism 2026, ending his marketing campaign for a 3rd time period as secretary basic.
The official model:
The federal government administration confirmed the choice, stating that though Pololikashvili was initially put ahead by Georgia, “a choice was later made to reverse the nomination.” As a substitute, Tbilisi has introduced it can now help the United Arab Emirates candidate for his or her one vote. The administration didn’t elaborate on the explanations behind the reversal or touch upon what pushed the endorsement of the UAE contender.
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Zurab stated, “It could be good if Kobakhidze defined why he did this. I’ve been writing, calling, and hiding for 3 weeks or extra. Let him come out and say what he modified my candidacy for! I don’t signify both the deep state or the worldwide struggle occasion.”
Zurab Disrespected the United Arab Emirates
Zurab should have been suspected of this motion by his PM on the Arabian Journey Market earlier this month. Zurab blew off his host, the United Arab Emirates Tourism Minister, by refusing to attend the UN Tourism ministerial roundtable, as a result of Ms. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, the UN-Tourism candidate from the UAE wouldn’t withdraw her marketing campaign.
Who’s PM Irakli Kobakhidze
The PM, Irakli Kobakhidze is a Georgian politician who has held the place of the sixteenth prime minister of Georgia since February 2024. He has beforehand served as a member of the Georgian Parliament from 2016 to 2024, chairman of the Parliament of Georgia from 2016 to 2019, as vice-president of the Parliamentary Meeting of the Council of Europe from 2020 to 2022, and held the publish of chairman of the Georgian Dream occasion from 2021 to 2024. Earlier than becoming a member of politics, he was a professor at Tbilisi State College and labored for a Western-funded non-governmental group.
UN- Tourism is Celebrating
Zurab, attempting to run for a 3rd time period, has not solely raised eyebrows however triggered outrage by tourism ministers, world leaders of the sector, and throughout the United Nations system.
Talking anonymously, some employees members in UN-Tourism are opening champagne bottles throughout a heat Madrid evening, celebrating, and hoping that this group will get better after 8 years of being dominated by a media-shy man with an iron fist. UN-Tourism represents one of many largest industries on the planet, accounting for nearly 10% of all jobs. Tourism ought to function a mannequin for peace, equity, and democracy. A 3rd time period by Zurab could have destroyed this.
The Dream Social gathering Authorities in Georgia
The “Dream occasion” authorities in Georgia has withdrawn Zurab Pololikashvili’s candidacy for the place of Secretary-Common of the United Nations World Tourism Group at present and stated it can help the candidate nominated by the United Arab Emirates with its one vote.
Following the principles of variety and rotation, the possibilities for Mexican candidate Gloria Guevara to guide UN-Tourism and be sworn in on the upcoming basic meeting in Saudi Arabia have elevated tremendously at present. UN-Tourism appears prepared for a candidate not from Europe, and a lady.
Gloria Guevara’s Assist in Saudi Arabia
Guevara labored as the highest advisor to the Saudi Tourism Minister for 3 years. She by no means compromised her perception that tourism is a world trade that must be led by somebody not compromised by completely different pursuits.
Most members of the Ministry of Tourism in Riyadh help Gloria Guevara, who has labored amongst them as their chief for 3 years, however this help by the minister modified.
After a gathering with their Greek counterpart, HE Al-Khateeb, the Saudi Minister of Tourism, could have been instructed by HRH Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to vote for Harry Theoharis, the Greek candidate. This most probably occurred after a gathering between the Saudi Crown Prince, the Greek Prime Minister, Harry Theoharis, and HE Al-Khateeb in Alula in January of this yr.
Gloria and Harry are usually not too far aside on many points, together with sustainability, local weather change, and accountable tourism.
The principle benefit for Gloria Guevara is her widespread help by the personal sector, reminiscent of Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt, and associations reminiscent of WTTC and U.S. Journey, amongst others.
Gloria and Harry know one another properly. Harry Theoharis labored underneath Gloria’s management on the advisory group for tourism options on local weather change in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
This group, as proven within the picture and article beneath, included identified personalities within the world journey and tourism trade, reminiscent of Prof. Geoffrey Lipman from Greece, Ambassador Younger-shim Dho from Korea, Isabell Hill, former White Home advisor for tourism, and this writer, Juergen Steinmetz.
Gloria Guevara was the CEO of the World Journey and Tourism Council, guiding the worldwide tourism trade by way of the COVID-19 disaster together with her SAFE Tourism marketing campaign, whereas Harry Theoharis was the Hon. Minister of Tourism in Athens at the moment.
Not a lot is thought concerning the contender from the UAE Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, who has not usually been seen in public and stays media shy. She comes from a household proudly owning the Rotana resort group.
There may be hardly any info or effort of campaigning by the Ghana and by the Tunisian candidate. Most definitely this race will proceed to be related between the Mexican and Greek candidate.
Now that Zurab is now not disturbing this election, a extra democratic and first rate marketing campaign will doubtless proceed.
There are solely days left till Might 29-30, when the UN-Tourism Govt Council will meet at Actual Sitio de San Ildefonso, Segovia, Spain, to suggest one of many 5 remaining candidates as the subsequent UN-Tourism Secretary-Common, beginning his or her time period on January 1, 2026. The UN-Tourism Common Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 7-11 November 2025, will affirm or not affirm this suggestion by the Govt Council.
