World Tourism Organization secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili (Georgia), in the position since January 2018, seeks a third term as secretary general of the UN Tourism agency.
Nevertheless, reports are that the incumbent secretary general does not have the votes to win a third term. Moreover, there is no clear majority for any candidate.
The UN agency rules establish that 35 members are eligible to vote in the WTO Executive Council. Eighteen of these are needed for the secretary general position to be allocated in the first round.
The first round of voting is scheduled for 29-30 May 2025.
The contenders for the executive position at the leading UN tourism agency are:
Incumbent Zurab Pololikashvili (Georgia), Gloria Guevara Manzo (Mexico), Harry Theoharis (Greece), Mohammed Amin Adam (Ghana), Habib Ammar (Tunisia), and Shaikha Al Nowais (UAE).
The position has not been held by the countries of these candidates.
The candidates for Mexico, Greece and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) represent countries that are global tourism powerhouses. In 2024, Mexico received 45 million tourist arrivals, Greece 40.7 million tourist arrivals and UAE 18.7 million. Dubai has underway efforts to increase these arrivals to 30 million by 2031. Tunisia received 10.25 million in 2024 and Ghana another two million tourists in 2024. Georgia, home of the incumbent two-term secretary general received five million tourists in 2024.
Of the candidates, Shaikha Al Nowais appears to be the most aggressive in her positioning. Her candidacy is posted at a time when the United Arab Emirates has announced a Disney theme park will be built in Abu Dhabi.
The countries with voting rights for the WTO secretary general are: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia.
The Dominican government has not announced its candidate choice in the vote for the WTO secretary general.
Dominican tourism expert Juan Llado understands the time is right for the naming of the UAE candidate, and points out the strengthening of the ties of the Dominican Republic with the UAE. He mentions the impact of major UAE investment in the converting of Caucedo Port into the leading trade and logistics port in the Caribbean and the recent signing of a national cybersecurity agreement.
Read more:
The Diplomat in Spain
World Tourism Forum
Habib Ammar
Gloria Guevara
Harry Theoharis
Harry Theoharis
Mohammed Amin Adam
Shaikhan Nasser
Grazia Magazine
Hospitality Investor
CNN
Acento
13 May 2025