Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova talked with Zurab Pololikashvili, the new Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization

Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova had a working meeting with the new Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia. They talked in the the 22^nd General Assembly of UNWTO in China. His nomination for the responsible position was voted within the 105^th Session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization in Madrid in May 2017 and Bulgaria was among the countries that supported it.

Bulgaria has supported the Georgian candidate for the position of Secretary General from the very beginning, Minister Angelkova noted. She added that our country gave a positive vote for Mr. Pololikashvili in both rounds of voting during the 105^th Session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization. I believe that with the new Secretary General of the organization, the cooperation between UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism will be even more successful, she affirmed.

They discussed the possibilities for partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and UNWTO, as well as future joint initiatives for the sustainable development of the industry. Minister Angelkova acquainted Zurab Pololikashvili with the upcoming organization of the 2^nd edition of the “International Congress on World Civilizations and Ancient Routes”. She explained that the name was proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and has already been approved by the World Tourism Organization.

UNWTO will take action to support the countries at both national and regional level, said Mr. Pololikashvili. He further said that the organization will continue to promote the principles and the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism for the achievement of the objectives of sustainable development of the sector.

Zurab Pololikashvili was approved unanimously for the position of new Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization in the 22^nd General Assembly of the organization. The new Secretary General’s mandate will be from 2018 to 2021.