Zurab Pololikashvili was born on in Tbilisi on 12 January 1977 and is a Georgian politician and diplomat, currently serving as Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization.
11 Facts About Zurab Pololikashvili
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Zurab Pololikashvili has widened the scope of UNWTOs work, including innovation, digital transformation, investment and online education, which are distinctive features of tourism as a sector spearheading new business models, people-to-people interaction, and leveraging social impact and development potential.
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Zurab Pololikashvili holds a Bachelor's Degree in Banking from the Georgian Technical University in Tbilisi, Georgia.
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Zurab Pololikashvili has a Global Senior Management Program from IE Business School, Instituto de Empresa, Madrid, Spain.
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Zurab Pololikashvili was responsible for ushering in a new phase of more liberal and secure visa regimes, facilitation of processes to ease border crossing procedures, and deepening relations with various international organizations, including UNWTO.
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Zurab Pololikashvili was instrumental in launching an innovative policy for the development of tourism in Georgia, prioritizing the sphere on both the government and private sector agendas.
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Zurab Pololikashvili successfully led the economic liberalization processes, introducing supportive policies for SMEs, and incentive programmes to attract foreign investment for the development of hard and soft infrastructure.
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Zurab Pololikashvili believes that recovery must involve transforming the sector, re-inventing tourism destinations and businesses, re-building the tourism ecosystem, and innovating and investing in sustainable tourism.
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Zurab Pololikashvili has guided the sector, releasing recommendations for action and giving health advice for tourists.
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Zurab Pololikashvili has centered his efforts in supporting measures to restart tourism from both governments and the private sector, though partnerships and agreements, with a special focus on innovation, education and digitalization.
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In June 2022, Zurab Pololikashvili was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute on the Global 100 in Hospitality, as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality.