UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit to Debate the so called ‘overtourism’
The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit will debate the so-called ‘overtourism’ at WTM London on Tuesday 7 November 2017.
The so called ‘Overtourism’ has become a hot topic in the news in recent months, with reports from around the world speaking of ‘tourism-phobia’ and showing pictures of citizens protesting against the ‘invasion of tourists’ and the expulsion of locals by tourism businesses.
“Managing the growing number of visitors to many popular areas of our planet, including cities, is crucial for both hosts and visitors, both international and domestic. Growth is not the enemy. Growing numbers are not the enemy. Growth is the eternal story of mankind. Tourism growth can and should lead to economic prosperity, jobs and resources to fund environmental protection and cultural preservation, as well as community development and progress needs, which would otherwise not be available. Yet ensuring that tourism is an enriching experience for visitors and hosts alike, demands strong, sustainable tourism policies, practices, and the engagement of national ,as well as local governments and administrations, private sector companies, local communities and tourists themselves.” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
The topic will also be the key theme of World Responsible Tourism Day – the largest day of responsible tourism action in the world – on Wednesday 8 November, and will feature throughout the responsible tourism programme across all three day of WTM London.
More than 1.2 billion international tourists crossed the globe in 2016 and this is expected to grow to 1.8 billion by 2030. Tourism generates 10% of the world’s gross domestic product, is responsible for one in every 10 jobs and 30% of world trade in services making it central to many countries’ economies and people’s livelihoods.
Furthermore, 2017 is the United Nation’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Sustainable tourism sector is one that promotes environmental preservation and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and promotes the engagement, commitment band respect for local communities.
The Summit will discuss how managing the growth of visitors to many popular destinations is critical for both hosts and visitors. It will look at how tourism growth and sustainability can and should go hand in hand.
WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press, said: “the so called ‘Overtourism’ is the key issue in the industry at the moment, so it is right that ministers and senior private sector leaders debate the topic as part of the UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit.
“In previous years, the summits have offered insights into issues such as terrorism, crisis management, seamless travel, social media, branding and the legacy of ‘mega-events’ such as the World Cup and Olympics.
“This year’s summit will discuss the so called overtourism the impact it is having on both tourists, destinations and local residents and look for solutions to help minimize the problem.
“WTM London is the only forum offering so many ministers alongside senior industry leaders discuss the big issues affecting the global tourism business.”
Dr. Mzembi: Its not about Me, its about UNWTO and Global Tourism
Dr. Walter Mzembi, the outspoken minister of tourism and hospitality from Zimbabwe may no longer be available to run for the Secretary General post, but he is still advocating strongly for UNWTO election scrutiny.
UNWTO has been in turmoil since May and continues to attract unfortunate interference with the election process with continued meddling by Georgia. We learned over the weekend from highly placed sources, powers behind Polkashivili are attempting to now secure ratification of their candidate in Chengdu by once again making backroom bilateral deals unrelated to tourism.
The UNWTO Secretary-General position should not be for sale, it should not be bartered or traded for favors. With Mzembi coming in second place last May at the Executive Council vote in Madrid, some factions of the UNWTO community have expressed it is simply a case of sour grapes, others did not want someone from Zimbabwe to hold the top post in UNWTO.
Dr. Mzembi told WorldTourismwire: ” Let me just say it is by no means certain that I would be myself available to participate in any subsequent re-run.”
More countries should now seriously consider whether Georgia’s candidate is appropriate for tourism’s top position.
The Zimbabwe Herold Newspaper conducted this interview with Minister Dr. Walter Mzembi today and shared it with WorldTourismWire as a courtesy.
Count Down to UNWTO General Assembly – What is in it for Zimbabwe?
The People’s Republic of China will be the host City for the UNWTO General Assembly. Hundred and fifty-seven countries, more than five hundred Affiliate Organisations and hundreds of global media will converge in this beautiful Chinese City for this elective General Assembly which will see Georgia’s candidate Mr Zurab Pololikashivili seeking confirmation from the General Assembly to replace Dr. Taleb Rifai. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, will lead a high-powered delegation that will participate in this elective General Assembly. The last elective General Assembly having been held ironically by Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2013 at which the outgoing Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai was unanimously endorsed for his second and final term, with the unequivocal support of his erstwhile friend Dr. Mzembi who is leading the reform agenda of the very same statutes that affirmed Rifai. Zimbabwe’s position is consistent with its desire to seek reform of the UN systems, including the reform of the United Nations and its Security Council architecture where President Mugabe is championing the inclusion of two Permanent Seats for Africa. Will Mzembi succeed with his reform agenda of one of the building blocks of the UN Systems? We caught up with him at his Tourism Headquarters for more insight into this….
- Ahead of the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly to be held in Chengdu, China from the 11th to 16th of September 2017, what is the African Agenda to this General Assembly?
This General Assembly is an elective one as much as the 20th Session held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2013 was, which handed the outgoing Secretary General his 2nd term. This General Assembly seeks to confirm by voting the Secretary General Elect, Mr Zurab Pololikashivili, who emerged the lead candidate at the 105th Executive Council meeting held on the 12th of May 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
Africa’s Agenda starts with the 60th Commission for Africa where our quota of ten Executive Council seats will come up for re-election amongst ourselves and the noting of members serving their terms up to 2019.
There is growing interest in elective positions by Member States, who in the past have been passive in this regard. I hope they can be supported in their quest for positions.
Zimbabwe has expressed interest to come back into the Executive Council from which it stood down in 2013 to concentrate on its Chairmanship of the Commission for Africa, after two consecutive terms which ends with our Commission sitting in Chengdu, the People’s Republic of China. We will also be seeking to deliberate Africa’s continental tourism as captured by the African Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and aligning this vision to the global tourism Agenda under the leadership that emerges in Chengdu.
- What exactly is the global agenda to the man on the streets served by this sector?
It is still elective to the extent that it is at this General Assembly that the Secretary General be confirmed by an elective ballot. But this aside, 2017 is a special year in that for the third time in fifty years we have been honoured by the designation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and we will be proceeding as Zimbabwe to the United Nations General Assembly to participate in programmes and events related to this. Topical issues that have ceased us in the most recent past include: tourism and security, operationalisation of SDGs going forward to 2030 to which we are assigned Goal number 8, 12 and 14, however, tourism cross – cuts all the seventeen SDGs. We are also going to look at the Global Code of Ethics that we seek to transform into a Convention. I hope this will be the General Assembly that will unpack for the upcoming UNGA 2017, resolutions that will create greater understanding and support for this sector whose export potential can beat that of fuels and chemicals into first position in terms of ranking. This is a sector that employs nearly three hundred million people globally, and is a solution to unemployment. For us in Africa it is so relevant to the extent that Europe’s challenge for example with illegal migration from Africa, could be mitigated by this low hanging fruit with an already established biodiversity product that just requires a “marshal plan” of sorts to generate more employment and stem the tide.
Some countries are alleging self-interest by Zimbabwe over its unhappiness with electoral processes. What is your comment on that?
It can’t be self-interest to the extent that I am back at work after a one year sojourn with the full support of my government and the African Union. In fact my government has complimented me for flying the country and continental flags high under very difficult circumstances. I am fully and happily employed in a sector that I love, but one of the hallmarks of true and authentic leadership is not turning your back on an organisation that clearly is laden with reform challenges. These were brought to the fore by my own participation in its elective processes which I have aptly captured in the documents I have circulated to the UNWTO Membership. At no stage have I been personal – in fact, I congratulated Mr Zurab Pololikashivili on his victory subject to confirmation. However, this does not negate the need to interrogate our statutes and processes so that we reassert the integrity of the organisation. It is not an affront to the Secretariat who appear to be leading a personal crusade against my person and my country. It is actually good for the outgoing Secretary General’s legacy to conclude this matter through a confirmation ballot so that if endorsed, Mr Zurab Pololikashivili will be able to commence his duties with confidence, clear conscience and support of the Membership of UNWTO.
- So where does this leave you and your elective ambitions?
My options remain open to any possibilities and eventualities. Remember, this is an unconcluded process until the General Assembly deals with the matter, and I hope the delegates will take into consideration the concerns we have raised to address the electoral anomalies. If Mr. Zurab Pololikashivili is confirmed, so be it, but we want it clearly understood that we cannot, and should not be content with flawed processes and prejudices that should be corrected in the first instance.
I will remain his shadow, and I will be willing to share with him my experiences, thoughts and indeed vision for the future evolution of UNWTO, and in fulfillment of our own aspirations as the African Union who sponsored my candidature for this position. So, it’s not going to be Mzembi – the elephant in the room which is what the Secretariat seem to suggest. If Mr. Zurab Pololikashivili fails to get the two-thirds majority vote, the Executive Council must reflect deeply and carefully about the best way forward for the organization and global tourism. I am on record in saying, the electoral processes revert to the point where the flaws and prejudices occurred, which, marred the outcome. Let me just say it is by no means certain that I would be myself available to participate in any subsequent re-run. It is extremely unfortunate that the Secretariat that I worked with for nearly ten years is still unable to understand me and the principles that I stand for notwithstanding their claims of friendship – this is not about me, it is about our organization and its integrity.
- Honourable Minister, you missed victory by two votes which means you had a lot of support even going beyond Africa. What message do you have for those who supported you?
Well, in the first round tourism won and the best man carried the day. Thereafter, other elements entered the equation and it was no-longer the best vision, the most comprehensive way forward for global tourism which the leadership of my campaign represented. All this generated massive support, including from countries way beyond the African continent. Let me take this opportunity to thank all those countries for their support and their encouragement, and to assure them that whatever might happen in Chengdu, my commitment to global tourism remains unyielding. I will work assiduously to make sure that my reform vision finds expression in whatever outcome. I represent a new generation of leadership which has understood the need for transformation, equal opportunity and democratization of institutions that were founded to serve humanity
Ratify or Reject? UNWTO Secretary-General Elect Voting Is Not A Done Deal
It should be considered breaking news, eTN has learned from highly placed sources, the drivers behind the current Secretary-General Elect, Zurab Pololiokashvilis, have been up to the same election trickery they engaged in last May to secure his nomination in Madrid.
From our archives in 2013, we published an article about Dr. Taleb Rifai being reelected as UNWTO Secretary-General. One can always learn from the past. Those were much simpler days.
Dr. Rifai said at the time, his job isn’t easy. “The role of being both a reformer and a consensus builder can be polar opposites.
We cannot live in a world that is static, everything changes. Reform is not just a character or passion. We have no option but to keep reforming and keep changing.” commented Rifai.
In the same article from 2013, it was noted, Taleb Rifai not only welcomed scrutiny, he encouraged it.
Never has our UNWTO been under greater scrutiny. As mentioned, one can always learn from history.
It appears bi-lateral deals to have Georgian nominee Zurab confirmed are continuing to flourish between Georgia and other voting UNWTO member countries. None of the deals have a clear connection to tourism. Apparently, these backroom deals are being engineered by the Georgian Foreign ministry under the directive of Georgian Prime MinisterGiorgi Kvirikashvili to ensure Georgia’s candidate is given a YES vote at the upcoming General Assembly in Chengdu, China.
When deals are brokered behind the scenes, with zero regards for our global tourism industry, we all we need to pause. It affects us all, right down to the very grassroots level of our global industry and to the very core and foundation of our UNWTO.
Pressing the reset button and having a do over might be prudent. While unprecedented, as our outgoing Secretary-General noted in 2013: “We have no option but to keep reforming and keep changing.”
With that in mind, NO ratification of this particular Georgia candidate elect is in order. A resounding NO vote to this particular Georgia candidate elect is in order. It will take only a little more then 1/3 of all voting nations to say NO to not confirm the Secretary General Elect and we can truly start over ensuring politics, favors and secret handshakes do not determine the leadership of UNWTO.
Last week, an Georgian investigative journalist quoted a top level local official within a due diligence report on the proposed UNWTO Secretary-General Elect:”“Most of Pololikashvili’s fortune was accumulated by his father, who was an influential businessman and a go-to guy for amicable dealings in post-Soviet Georgia, especially during Shevardnadze’s tenure. Zurab himself just was a good son who listened to his dad. That’s where he got his savvy acumen and knack for negotiation. He’s a perfect second man.”
Our UNWTO’s top post should not be a job for the kid of a crony or “negotiated for”. Diplomatic postings within one’s own government is expected, that we understand. Trying to hijack world’s top tourism post on a quid pro quo basis, is entirely another matter.