Members of Parliament for the tourism task force in the German Parliament (Bundestag) have been trying to get an appointment with UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili since 2023- without success. Numerous invitations to speak with German members of parliament were declined by the Polikashvilis office. It includes requests for February, April, and June 2024.
“We’re irritated and alarmed about the current activities in UNWTO (UN – Tourism). This was a response by Anja Karlicek to a German media question by the Handelsblatt research.
Since 2021 she has been a full member of the Tourism Committee and Environment Committee; a deputy member of the Finance Committee; and since 2021 tourism policy spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Since October 2023 she is also president of the Catholic German Women’s Association (KDFB).
Zurab refused to respond to the German request to explain his ambition to run for a third term as UN Tourism Secretary General.
Germany is an important member of UN Tourism and is paying significant membership dues of approximately 500 million euros to UN Tourism.
160 countries are UN Tourism members, but major countries important to global tourism such as the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia among others stay away from UN-Tourism.
The UN Secretary-General had not put any effort into attracting such potential members to rejoin the organization but concentrated on funding options from Saudi Arabia.
He just returned from Riyadh and constantly praised the kingdom for its contribution and progress in US tourism.
Concrete activities that significantly benefit tourism were not registered during Zurab’s leadership, except for providing statistical data and rewards.
Polokashvili had tried to extend the 2 times term limit in trying to be reappointed without an election. When this did not work he convinced Chile to request the 2023 General Assembly in Uzbekistan to allow the secretary-general and run for a third term.
According to eTurboNews research Spain, Italy, France, and most likely Germany would not support him for a third term.
However, Zurab Pololikashvili had told many tourism ministers his support from European members is guaranteed.
Germany is concerned about such activities undermining the principle of democracy in the UN system. The Federal Republic of Germany demanded an explanation from UN Tourism, but without success.
SOURCE: UN Tourism Secretary General’s Refusal to Respond to Germany BY: eTurboNews | eTN