When UN-Tourism Secretary-Basic Zurab Pololikashvili offers an interview, it will likely be in a publication he can belief to not ask vital questions; this has change into his modus operandi since he took workplace in 2018. In a heartwarming propaganda story in a publication circulated amongst diplomats in Madrid, he gave an incomplete model of his achievements over eight years, leaving out a proof for why a 3rd run for SG was justified.
In an interview revealed by “The Diplomat,” a Madrid publication focusing on diplomats within the Spanish capital, Zurab Pololikashvili admitted that UN tourism was revered earlier than he took the helm of UNWTO on January 1, 2018.
The an identical article was revealed in El País and different Spanish publications, indicating it was a commissioned (earned media) press contribution.
On this commissioned article to assist his marketing campaign for a 3rd re-election, UN-Tourism Secretary-Basic Pololikashvili made many legitimate factors when praising himself, noting the UNWTO’s launch of the Tourism Disaster Committee throughout COVID-19. Nevertheless, he disregarded that his committee solely met as soon as a month, and points had been moved to the following month.
In comparison with an analogous committee launched at WTTC underneath its CEO, Gloria Guevara, WTTC made progress, assembly as soon as per week or extra, and launching the Protected Tourism Seal. WTTC took the lead amongst all organizations throughout COVID. Gloria Guevara was referred to as probably the most highly effective lady in tourism.
Guided by the unwavering help of virtually each massive firm within the journey and tourism trade, Gloria Guevara is now campaigning in opposition to Zurab within the upcoming election that can happen later this month in Madrid.
One other fellow candidate for the upcoming UN tourism election was Harry Theoharis in Greece, who grew to become this European nation’s one-term “COVID” tourism minister.
In his interview, Zurab Pololikashvili claimed credit score for launching the UNWTO world middle in Riyadh and Brazil.
The interview disregarded the $5 million UNWTO acquired from Saudi Arabia and the outcomes of this workplace 5 years later—there are none. It additionally disregarded the horrible scenario UNWTO was in, virtually forcing this UN company to relocate to Riyadh.
UNWTO opened the middle in Brazil in 2023. The end result was an assurance by the Brazilian tourism minister to vote for Zurab this month. Nonetheless, little is thought concerning the $3 million Brazil paid and the $1 million lacking within the accounting.
The politics of the Brazil regional middle grew to become more odd when a high-ranking Brazilian police officer informed eTurboNews final month that there was numerous smoke across the minister of tourism relating to UNWTO, however no hearth but. The officer referred to doable corruption and a $1 million cost relating to a suspicious transaction.
Zurab defined within the interview. ” We launched the Americas-Africa Cooperation Summits, with two editions already held within the Dominican Republic and Zambia, as a software for cooperation and integration that shall be replicated in different continents and cultures.”
He disregarded that this was performed lately as a result of each the Dominican Republic and Zambia are voting members within the Govt Council. This council will vote for the following secretary-general this month.
Some factors in his interview are legitimate achievements, however they’re attributable to tasks that had usually began earlier than he was in energy, such because the relaunched cooperation with WTTC to draw investments. This cooperation was most substantial at UNWTO underneath Dr. Taleb Rifai and the letters to heads of state, however this was, in fact.
Zurab mentioned, “I need to emphasize one thing important: Tourism is an agent of peace when nicely managed. It unites cultures, breaks down prejudices, and fosters understanding between peoples. In a fragmented world, tourism might be the bridge that brings us nearer collectively.”
He’s right, however why would one among his first enterprise actions in 2018 be to kill a undertaking with the Worldwide Institute for Peace Via Tourism, which the previous SG, Taleb Rifai, and IIPT founder, Louis D’Amore, began?
Zurab mentioned: “We intention to certify locations, develop tourism competitiveness rankings, and launch the primary World Congress on Transport and Tourism along with ICAO and IATA.”
The same cooperation was launched at UNWTO on the Zambia/Zimbabwe Basic Meeting in 2013, after the CNN Job Group began in 2009, an initiative between CNN, UNWTO, ICAO, and IATA. eTurboNews joined the CNN TASK Group as a fourth occasion in 2013.
CNN has began beaming and promoting Zambia’s tourism actuality and potential overseas – Masebo | Lusaka Voice
CNN, one of many three main cable information channels on the planet has began beaming and promoting Zambia’s tourism actuality and potential overseas says Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo in an interview.
Ms. Masebo who’s in the midst of selling Zambia’s tourism forward of the coveted UNWTO mentioned the 60 second prime time commercials at the moment are displaying on the second largest cable channel consistently.
“I’m comfortable to say we’re on CNN now and we’re additionally on BBC,” Ms. Masebo mentioned, “we need to heighten world consideration on Zambia as a lot as doable and we additionally need the skin world to know that there’s tourism in Zambia past the Victoria Falls.”
Ms. Masebo mentioned she was comfortable that Zambia, “just isn’t solely being present cased in international media now for a world viewers but additionally right here regionally in newspapers akin to yours (Each day Mail), Instances of Zambia, The Put up and ZNBC.” CNN which is second to Fox Information however forward of MSNBC has a major time viewership of about 1.1million individuals world wide and the numbers are rising.
Ms. Masebo didn’t disclose the quantity the Zambia Tourism Board is paying for Zambia’s presence on cable TV however maintained that regardless of the worth, the returns can be increased.
Zambia is ready to co-host the UNWTO in August which is anticipated to attract some greater than 4000 worldwide delegates which are prone to spend substantial quantities of cash in Zambia and Zimbabwe
Zurab mentioned: UN-Tourism right now leads. It transforms it. It places it on the service of the planet and other people. And this journey is simply starting.
This is a superb view on the way forward for UN tourism that everybody can agree with, however what’s disregarded within the interview is the query most international locations ought to ask Zurab:
Why has he manipulated two elections and is now attempting to take advantage of the system so badly that he can rule for a 3rd time period? What’s unprecedented in a United Nations company?
