Tourism industry could replace oil revenues: Minister
MoUs signed on ecotourism projects
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami is of the opinion that the tourism industry could help the country replace oil revenues.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark World Tourism Day in Tehran on Sunday, the minister said if tourism income takes the place of petrodollars, the Ministry of Oil will definitely enjoy better conditions, CHTN reported.
Also present at the ceremony were the head of the Department of the Environment, Ali Salajeqeh, deputy oil, energy and agriculture ministers, as well as the heads of guilds of the tourism sector.
“I would like to thank the Ministry of Oil for its support in the field of tourism,” Zarghami added. “Regarding the importance of tourism, Minister of Oil Javad Owji has done everything we asked him urgently.”
The minister noted that by the incorporation of the private sector and state-run organizations of the country, a greater prosperity of the tourism sector will be achieved.
He also expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the Ministry of Energy and the Water and Waste Water Management Organization, and the Ministry of Agriculture for their good cooperation with his ministry.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts inked three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the development of ecotourism.
The first MoU was signed with the Water and Waste Water Management Organization, as a trilateral agreement was inked with the Iran National Environmental Fund and Iranian Hoteliers Association.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), Union of Ecotourism Residences of Iran and Alavi Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry on ecotourism projects.
Two books on tourist guides and green investment as well as a digital book on sustainability in ecotourism houses were unveiled at the ceremony.