Pololikashvili

Zurab Pololikashvili (born 1969 in Tbilisi, Georgia) is a Georgian diplomat who serves as the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency. He was elected to the post in 2017, succeeding Taleb Rifai, and was re-elected in 2021 for a second four-year term.

As secretary-general, Pololikashvili oversees UNWTO's efforts to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism worldwide. His work emphasizes policy guidance for governments and the private sector, capacity-building, and the collection and dissemination of tourism data. He has prioritized post-pandemic recovery, travel facilitation, and climate-smart tourism as central themes of the organization's agenda.

Prior to joining UNWTO, Pololikashvili held various public-diplomatic and international-development roles in Georgia and abroad, including positions in government service and representation of Georgia in international forums. His background is described as grounded in diplomacy, public administration, and international development.

Under his leadership, UNWTO has sought to strengthen cooperation among member states, tourism industry stakeholders, and civil society, with a focus on leveraging tourism to support sustainable development goals and ensure broader economic and social benefits from tourism activities.