A TOP official in Bahrain has been nominated by the government for a key position at the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) as the sector lies in turmoil as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa will be taking on current incumbent Zurab Pololikashvili for the position of Secretary General.
“I’m humbled to be nominated,” she said. “The contribution of the tourism sector in supporting economic development can’t be underestimated.
“It has the power to alleviate poverty, support local industries and enhance education and healthcare systems.
“I have been fortunate to contribute to the growth of the cultural sector in Bahrain and have seen first-hand the impact it has had in enhancing tourism and developing cross-cultural understanding.
“As we look towards post-pandemic recovery, we must continue to support sustainable tourism to drive socio-cultural progress and achieve greater economic prosperity.”
The UNWTO is the United Nations’ specialised agency entrusted with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism.
There are 35 voting members who will choose its leader. A decision will be announced next October.
Every four years it elects a secretary general and the position is currently being held by Mr Pololikashvili of Georgia – his country’s former Deputy Foreign Minister and Economic Development Minister who served as an ambassador to Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Andorra.
The UNWTO and the appointed secretary general will have to lead global efforts for the recovery of the sector.
The General Assembly is the principal gathering of the UNWTO and it meets every two years to approve a budget and programme of work and to debate topics of vital importance.
Under Shaikha Mai’s guidance, Bahrain’s cultural infrastructure has received international recognition further cementing the kingdom’s status as a cultural hub.
Her projects have contributed to stimulating urban development, providing job opportunities, and attracting investors and visitors including establishing the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research which has enhanced cultural dialogue and preserved the traditional architecture of Bahrain.
She has also launched the ‘Investing in Culture’ initiative, which encourages partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance cultural projects.
Her efforts have also achieved the registration of three national sites on the Unesco World Heritage List while also founding the Regional Centre for World Heritage.
She has also led the ‘Revitalisation of Muharraq’ which included a series of restoration and reuse projects – including the iconic ‘Pearling Path’ – which were awarded the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Bahrain won the award for the project, which has seen Muharraq entered into the Unesco List of Creative Cities Network for Design.
The UNWTO’s membership includes 158 countries, six territories and over 500 affiliate members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities and is headquarters is in Madrid, Spain.
Its focused on Sustainable Development, Competitiveness, Innovation & Digital Transformation, Ethics, Culture & Social Responsibility, Technical Cooperation, UNWTO Academy, and Statistics.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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