The UNWTO Secretary General said in Zambia after his election that “I was first chosen as deputy secretary general in Senegal. I was first elected as the secretary general in Mali. Now I am blessed to be re-elected in Zambia-Zimbabwe."
Mr. Rifai added that his job is not easy explaining that the role of being both a reformer and consensus-builder can be polar opposites; however two things can go both-in-hand and should go hand-in-hand. He added "We cannot live in a world that is static; everything changes. Reform is not just a character or a passion. We have no option but to keep reforming and keep changing." The Secretary General thanked staff in Madrid and UNWTO members for making his work visible. He said he not only welcomes scrutiny, but rather encourage them.
