Zurab Pololikashvili receives overwhelming 2nd tandate to Lead UNWTO For Four More Years

ZURAB POLOLIKASHVILI RECEIVES OVERWHELMING 2ND

MANDATE TO LEAD UNWTO FOR FOUR MORE YEARS

The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has expressed its continued support for Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialized agency for four more years.

At the end of the 113th session of the Executive Council, held as a hybrid event in Madrid the Spanish capital, members voted in person and in secret for their choice of leader for 2022-2025. Incumbent Pololikashvili won 76% of the votes in a process where the Kingdom of Bahrain also put forward a candidate - Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa - for the position, Her Excellency congratulated Mr Pololikashvili on his win and the Government of Bahrain expressed its support for UNWTO. Mr Pololikashvili had based his campaign for re-election both on the progressive institutional and policy reforms undertaken during his first term, and on his clear leadership of global tourism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Council’s recommendations will be carried forward to the 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, due to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, towards the end of the year. In Madrid, both the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and His Majesty King Felipe VI expressed their support for UNWTO and its leadership. The Secretary-General has also laid the foundation for seizing the momentum of the rollout of vaccines to ensure a harmonized approach to the return to safe and seamless international travel.

• The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez addressing the Executive Council

• Delegates at the 113th Executive Council Meeting in Madrid

• The Bahrein Delegation at the Council • UNWTO Secretary General presenting his report at the council

UNWTO outdoors ‘A Tour of African Gastronomy’ to celebrate continent’s diverse food culture

The 96 page document pays homage to the unique culinary experiences of several countries on the African continent.

It features background information of selected chefs from Algeria through to Zimbabwe who also take readers through recipes of at least one of their respective countries most savoury dishes. “Through the history of humanity, food has always been an essential aspect of a community’s life, where strangers, friends and family members gather, share stories, create memories and even make history,” says Elcia Grandcourt, Director, Regional Department for Africa, UNWTO. She adds: "But gastronomy is much more than food. It is the beautiful connection between culture, people and food. In particular, African gastronomy is made up of all the influences of its thousands of ethnicities, environment, traditions, ancient and modern history, reflecting countries’ rich identities."

Grandcourt stated that more than ever before, African gastronomy is being recognized, such as the recent inscription of "couscous," a dish from Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. “I invite you to join me on this journey in discovering the bursting flavours of our colourful gastronomy,” the Director beseeches. Touching on the importance of Gastronomy to tourism, UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili said in many parts of the world, gastronomy has grown to become an important part of the entire tourism value chain, not only supporting jobs and businesses but also promoting destinations and contributing to sustainable development. “Enhancing the image of Africa as a diverse destination is among the main priorities of the UNWTO Agenda for Africa. The continent offers a wide range of unique experiences, including its rich array of local gastronomy. All of them deserve a place in the spotlight, to open new windows for people to discover Africa’s tastes, cultures and people,” he averred.

A simple act like sharing a meal with locals, he said, brings people together. Pololikashvili adds that it is at the foundation of a new approach to building cultural bonds, empowering communities and contributing to the preservation of the culture and heritage of the world’s oldest inhabited continent. The benefits go beyond tourism itself. “Gastronomy tourism has an active role to play in rural development, education, the inclusion of vulnerable populations and poverty eradication, to name but a few examples of its potential contribution to Africa’s future,” the Secretary General postulated.

• Chef El Hadi of Morocco and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili