DUSHANBE, May 4, 2010, Asia-Plus — Dr. Taleb Rifai, the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), arrived in Tajikistan Monday, at 2:00 am, on a three-day visit, according to the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan.
During his stay in Tajikistan, Dr. Rifai will hold talks with high-raking Tajik state officials to discuss issues related to expansion of cooperation between the UNWTO and the Tajik Government.
The UNWTO Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with President Emomali Rahmon, Foreign Minister Hamrkhon Zarifi, Finance Minister Safarali Najmiddinov and Chairman the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs Maliksho Nematov.
Mr. Rifai is also expected to visit Gorno Badakhshan to get acquainted with the situation around Lake Sarez. In Gorno Badakhshan, he will also hold talks with GBAO governor and familiarize himself with tourist zones in the area. The UNWTO Secretary-General is also planned to attend a wedding ceremony in the region.
In Dushanbe, Dr. Rifai will visit the National Museum named after Kamiliddin Behzod and meet with students from local universities studying tourism management and service marketing.
Dr Taleb Rifai was elected as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in May 2009 and his election was ratified in October 2009 by the general assembly of the 155-member inter-governmental body.
Dr. Rifai holds a PhD in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, a Master”s degree in Engineering and Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and a BSc in Architectural Engineering from the University of Cairo in Egypt.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information on international tourism. This organization represents public sector tourism bodies, from most countries in the world and the publication of its data makes possible comparisons of the flow and growth of tourism on a global scale.
The World Tourism Organization plays a role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries. The Organization encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its negative social and environmental impacts. UNWTO is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, geared toward reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.
