Zurab Pololikashvili Appointed as UNWTO Secretary General for 2018-2021

The 22nd World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, being held in Chengdu, China, on Thursday appointed Zurab Pololikashvili, as its new Secretary General for the period 2018-2021. He is the current Ambassador of Georgia to Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Andorra.

Zurab Pololikashvili with former UNWTO Secretary General Teleb rifai.

The candidature of Pololikashvili was presented by his country, Georgia, in accordance with the UNWTO statutes. He was elected by consensus at the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly following the recommendation of the 105th UNWTO Executive Council. He replaces Dr Taleb Rifai.

Pololikashvili has a broad experience of working in both private and public sectors at high-profile positions.

He was Minister of Economic Development of Georgia (2009-2010) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2005-2006) and his private sector experience includes several years in the financial and banking sectors.

In addition to speaking Georgian (native), Pololikashvili speaks English, Spanish and Russian (fluently) and French, Japanese and Polish (spoken).

He is married and has three children.