Dr.Taleb Rifai former Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
Whatever our business in life may be, let us always remember that our core business is, and will always be, to make this world a better place. Dr. Taleb Rifai
Dr. Taleb Rifai Chairman, IIPT International Advisory Board
Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General from 2009 through 2017, has been named Chairman, IIPT International Advisory Board. He succeeds Dr. Noel Brown who becomes Chairman Emeritus and before Dr. Brown, Knut Hammarskjold, former Director General of IATA and nephew of UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjold.
In making the announcement, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore stated: “IIPT is most honored that Dr. Rifai has accepted the role as Chairman of the IIPT International Advisory Board. His acceptance enhances the stature of IIPT in the International Tourism Community and IIPT’s ability to make further progress towards its vision of travel and tourism becoming the world’s first global peace industry and the belief that every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.”
Dr. Rifai stated: “I have been a supporter of IIPT and its vision since participating in the IIPT Amman Global Summit nearly 20 years ago as Jordan Minister of Communication. As I have often stated as Secretary General of UNWTO – global solidarity is based on a common aspiration for peace – and ‘travel is the language of peace.’ I also believe and have often stated that the ‘core business of tourism is to make the world a better place.’ As Chairman of the IIPT International Advisory Board, I will be in a position to continue contributing towards these ends.”
Dr. Rifai earned a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Cairo; Masters degree in Engineering and Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and a PhD in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1999 to 2003, he served in several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation; Minister of Information; and Minister of Tourism and Antiquity. He subsequently was Assistant Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) following which he served as Deputy Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization prior to being elected as Secretary General in 2009 and elected for a second four year term by the 20th session of the UNWTO General Assembly co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
During his eight years as UNWTO Secretary General, Dr. Rifai changed the UNWTO and many say he raised the bar of the UN agency to a new high, building a legacy for himself and the UNWTO like none of his predecessors had.
In his final speech, he addressed not his legacy, but the legacy of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
This is Dr. Rifai’s final address as UNWTO Secretary General.