Advocates Push for Fairness by Asking to Delay Election for UN Tourism Agency Leadership
Photo Credit: Former Secretary General of UN World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai has launched a petition asking the current UNWTO leadership to reschedule nomination deadlines for fair 2022-2025 elections. Skift
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Calling for an ethical nomination process, a new petition spearheaded by respected voices in the industry— including former secretary general Taleb Rifai — could lead to a potential shakedown at UNWTO in 2021, just as travel enters a year in which a unified tourism voice will be sorely needed.
Controversy is brewing at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) over the upcoming election for a new secretary general to run the tourism agency from 2022-2025.
Allegations had begun swirling weeks ago, on the heels of Bahraini Shaikha Mai’s historic candidacy, that current UNWTO leader Zurab Pololikashvili might have purposely tightened the nomination and campaign timeframe this year — a first in UNWTO history — to prevent any competition from hindering his chances to serve a second term. Mai would be the first woman ever to oversee the organization.
Concerns over an unethical bending of the rules at the UN’s tourism agency have now led to a “Restore Decency in the UNWTO Election” global petition, launched days ago by respected former secretary general Taleb Rifai and his predecessor Francesco Frangialli, both of whom served at the UN’s tourism arm for a combined 20 years.
The petition, addressed to Pololikashvili and to United Nations Secretary
