UNWTO Tourism Legacy Project in Livingstone, Zambia
ZAMBIA has been given USD 47,500 for UNWTO Tourism Legacy project to be set up in tourist capital Livingstone. This is in honor of the people of Livingstone for their hospitality during Zambia’s co-hosting of UNWTO 20th Session of the General Assembly in August 2013.
The funds have been donated by the government of the Republic of Korea through the UNWTO Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation.
The announcement was made at the ongoing 103rd UNWTO Executive Council Meeting in Malaga, Spain by Zambia’s Ambassador to France His Excellency Ambassador Humphrey Chilu Chibanda who is also the Permanent Representative to the UNWTO.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts Mr. Stephen Mwansa who is leading the Zambian delegation to the country’s 2nd UNWTO Executive Council Session meeting since having been admitted to the Council last September, handed over the signed cooperation agreement between UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to UNWTO Secretary-General Dr. Taleb Rifai.
Mr. Mwansa thanked UNWTO Secretary-General for having fulfilled the promise he made to the people of Livingstone and Zambia. The Permanent Secretary applauded the UNWTO Chief for being a true friend to Zambia and for the continued support and unwavering leadership he continues to give to Zambia, Africa and indeed other members of the Organisation.
The Permanent Secretary also thanked Ambassador Dho YOUNG-SHIM Chairperson of the UNWTO-ST-EP Foundation and the people of the Republic of South Korea for their continued generous support to Zambia. He stated that this is the third ST-EP project Zambia is receiving under the support of the government of South Korea.
The Permanent assured the Secretary-General and Ambassador Dho of Zambia’s commitment to full implementation of the project and ensure that it benefits the intended beneficiaries who are the Livingstone community.
The Secretary-General praised Zambia’s commitment and support of the UNWTO objectives. He informed the Permanent Secretary that soon one of the UNWTO officials from the Technical Services will be travelling to Zambia in the first week of June to launch the new ST-EP Project.
And Zambia’s Ambassador to France, who is also the Permanent Delegate to UNWTO, Ambassador Humphrey Chibanda, expressed gratitude for the generous support rendered by the Government of the Republic of South Korea to Zambia through the ST-EP initiative.
Editors Notes.
Despite the special position of tourism in poverty alleviation, often poor segments of the population in developing countries and least developed countries do not benefit from the economic impact of tourism. The UNWTO Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty Initiative (ST-EP) promotes poverty alleviation through the provision of assistance to sustainable development projects. The initiative focuses on enhancing the Organization’s longstanding work to encourage sustainable tourism – social, economic and ecological – with activities that specifically alleviate poverty, deliver development
UNWTO update: Taleb Rifai appoints Favilla Lucca de Paula to be second in charge
UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai dropped a bombshell yesterday at the United Nations World Tourism Organization Executive Council Meeting.
The respected tourism leader was given a lengthy standing ovation for his diligent service to the United Nations World Tourism Organization during yesterday’s Executive Council meeting in Malaga, Spain.
According to reliable eTN sources, the secretary General put the Executive Director for Operational Program and Institutional Relations Márcio Favilla Lucca de Paula from Brazil second in charge of UNWTO.
Rifai said Mr.de Paula would be taking over some important responsibilities in the leadership of UNWTO.
Mr Rifai however will remain in charge of the UNWTO Secretariat until 31 December 2017, end of his 4 years term as Secretary General.
According to eTN sources this move may be related due to health reasons.
Taleb Rifai stressed this has nothing to do with electives issues next year in regards to UNWTO’s expected election of a new secretary general.
Besides Zimbabwe also Morocco has announced candidacy to the new post.
It appears second in charge of UNWTO is now Favilla Lucca de Paula.
This move was the number one talk among ministers and delegates yesterday.
From April 2007, Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula was Vice Minister of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations of the Presidency of Brazil.
Between January 2010 and December 2013 he held the position of UNWTO Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships.
Prior to this appointment, he was Brazil’s first Vice Minister of Tourism (2003-2007) where he played a key role in the structuring of the first exclusive Ministry of Tourism in Brazil.
During his term as Vice Minister of Tourism he was actively involved in the development and implementation of the 1st National Tourism Plan and worked to increase both tourism arrivals into the country as well as domestic tourism.
He was also engaged in many of UNWTO’s activities as Head of the Brazilian delegation to all General Assembly and Executive Council sessions and Chairman of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas in 2006.
From 1999 to 2002 he worked at the Ministry of Development, Industry and International Trade as Head of the National Department for Business Registry among other positions.
Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula was in Belo Horizonte from 1980 to 1998, first at the Development Bank of Minas Gerais and then the State Secretariat for Finance of Minas Gerais.
Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula has a MA in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands, where he specialized in Regional Development Planning (1985-1986). He obtained his undergraduate degree in Economics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1979).
Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula is a Brazilian national, born in 1958