Our management
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili took office in January 2018. Seeking to optimize the efficiency of the Organization, the Secretary-General has introduced a new leadership structure consisting of a Deputy Secretary-General and two Executive Directors, each one overseeing key structural areas and departments of the Organization, for increased efficiency in achieving UN Tourism’s goals, including adding value to members, increasing membership and serving the tourism sector as a whole.
The management team works towards a comprehensive vision for development of the tourism sector. This includes positioning tourism as a policy priority, establishing thought leadership in knowledge and policy creation, increasing resources and strengthening UN Tourism’s capacity through meaningful partnerships.
Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all of the goals. In particular, it has been included as targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14, on inclusive and sustainable economic development, sustainable consumption and production, and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively.
- The year 2015 has been a milestone for global development as governments have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The bold agenda sets out a global framework to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and fix climate change until 2030.
- Building on the historic Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets is people-centered, transformative, universal and integrated.
Zurab Pololikashvili
Zurab Pololikashvili is Secretary-general since 1 January 2018 after being elected by the 22nd Session of UN Tourism General Assembly.
"Our sector gives them the chance to make a living. To earn not just a wage, but also dignity and equality. Tourism jobs also empower people and provide a chance to have a stake in their own societies – often for the first time."
Zoritsa Urosevic
UN Tourism Executive Director, Special Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
"By placing people and planet at the center of our discussions, we have fostered meaningful connections and actionable strategies that will ripple across rural areas worldwide. Together, we have sown the seeds for a more inclusive and sustainable future"
Natalia Bayona
UN Tourism Executive Director.
"Investing in people, particularly younger generations, is key as the tourism industry employs more than 50% of the global workforce under the age of 25. As we move forward, our focus on innovation and strategic investments will adapt to the evolving needs of travellers, support community wellbeing, and ensure the sustainability of the sector and our planet."
Mr. Liu Shijun
UN Tourism Executive Director.
Mr. Liu Shijun is a seasoned travel and tourism professional with nearly 40 years of experience spanning both private and public sectors.