What happened and what is next for UNWTO? The untold story…
The World Tourism Organization on September 14, 2017, in Chengdu, China during the UNWTO General Assembly confirmed Zurab Pololikashvili, the candidate from Georgia, as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This confirmation was done by acclamation.
The General Assembly is the supreme body of UNWTO. Every 5th country is elected to be on the Executive Council to effectively make all recommendations for the General Assembly a simple process. It’s a rubber stamp process.
Unless there is an issue, and this last assembly had a massive issue, all of which required more than a rubber stamp approval of Madrid’s recommendation for who would be the new Secretary-General.
On September 12, the same Executive Council that voted for Zurab, the 106th session of the UNWTO Executive Council met for the last time in Chengdu, to present their recommendation, and to deal with the intervention by Zimbabwe about “irregularities” in the original election for Zurab Pololikashvili.
The Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism and Hospitality at that time, Dr. Walter Mzembi, was very clear and firm of his desire to have this issue discussed at the General Assembly. Put it all out on the table, let the Executive Council decide, was his forthright position.
Stay with this story, it gets strange. After the top level, closed-door discussions, Mzembi finally agreed to withdraw his objection at the General assembly, after he was assured there would be an election by secret ballot at the General Assembly, rather than a confirmation by acclamation if only one country asks for it.
The understanding was: No rubber stamp, it would be voted on.
This is important, ordinarily, the vote would be by acclamation. Mzembi was also assured there would be a committee to investigate the entire UNWTO process for future elections. It was strongly hinted to Mzembi he would be asked to spearhead this committee.
So, when The Gambia, during the General Assembly requested the secret ballot, this country was bullied to withdraw their request. Outgoing Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai made a large stink about requesting a secret ballot instead of acclamation, claiming in the assembly that this would destroy the unity of the organization.
He wanted the rubber stamp approval, despite the assurances made to Mzembi, this would not occur if anyone asked a secret ballot. So much for the top level closed door meetings assurances. Supporting Rifai were countries friendly with Georgia, and it appeared they were bullying the Gambia to withdraw their request for a secret ballot. Under immense pressure, Gambia did not want to appear to stand against the rest of the world and did eventually withdraw their request for the secret ballot.
In the meantime, a lobbyist convinced Minister Mzembi from Zimbabwe to accept acclamation. Subsequently, Mzembi walked up to the stage, and all three men, Mzembi, Rifai and Pololikashvili shook hands. Bring out the rubber stamp, the election was over.
Chapter two of this sorry story happened a day after the General Assembly when the new 107th session of the newly elected Executive Council met on September 16 in Chengdu. It was fully expected, as is the long-standing UNWTO tradition for any newly confirmed Secretary-General to present his deputy, and the rest of his executive team.
Curiously, this did not occur, because Pololikashivili wasn’t “ready”. Pololikashivili asked outgoing Secretary-General Taleb Rifai to push back the presentation and announce an extraordinary session of the Executive Council on the sidelines of the FITUR trade show in January 2018 in Madrid. Rifai announced this prominently at the 107th Executive Council meeting.
According to information provided to eTN, the employment contract for Carlos Vogeler, who also ran for the Secretary-General post, was not renewed as it was for other Executive Directors of the UNWTO. Zurab Pololikashivili told Vogeler his services would no longer be needed after Vogelers contract will expire December 31, 2017
It is not clear what will happen after outgoing Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai leaves his post. If the non-renewal of Vogelar’s contract is any indication, along with the lack of transparency, combined with backroom wheeling and dealing during the election, we as an industry should be very concerned, if not alarmed.
Based on reliable information received, and from reports of multiple clandestine meetings between Pololikashivili and the Chinese delegation before the Chengdu General Assembly, China has a good chance to be awarded the coveted UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General position.
If this occurs China will have even more global influence after the recent announcement of their own World Tourism Alliance during the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu.
Industry observers speculate with Pololikashivili having attended the recent wine conference in Argentina, this South American country will be featured in Pololikashivili’s still unknown executive team. The next WTTC Summit in 2018 will be in Buenos Aires.
The future of UNWTO is very unclear, and transparency within the UNWTO may well be a thing of the past. What is clear, Pololikashivli owes a great deal to Taleb Rifai. Without Rifai’s illogical backing and odd, unwavering support, the candidate from Georgia would not today be occupying world tourism’s top office.
Hopefully, Taleb Rifai will be doing the right thing for UNWTO, and call for this extraordinary Executive Council meeting in January and look at the structure as his last legacy act in the name of good international corporate governance and keeping to his word to the General Assembly.
This is the first time WorldTourismWire is releasing two recordings from the election proceedings at the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu. Do listen to these recordings from Chengdu. They are enlightening and released the first time on this news network.
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