Iran mulling over restoring tourism ties with Egypt
Canceling visa requirements for Saudis on agenda: Minister
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Ezzatollah Zarghami said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has started mulling over the restoration of tourism ties with Egypt, adding that the ministry is waiting for the diplomatic decision that would be taken by the Foreign Ministry.
In an interview with IRNA on Friday, Zarghami said that Iranian travel enthusiasts and those involved in tourism have for months been discussing the possibility of traveling to Egypt in the near future.
“Our private sector has even commenced its negotiations with its Egyptian counterparts,” he pointed out.
Zarghami maintained that the ministry has been in contact with a representative of the Iranian Air Travel and Tourism Offices, some of whom have traveled to Egypt to lay the groundwork.
“Expanding tourism ties with Egypt is a useful way to enhance ties between the two nations,” said Zarghami.
He said that expanding tourism relations with foreign countries and facilitating travel to Iran is the priority of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, and added that his ministry has provided the government with a visa waiver plan with 68 countries.
Visa-free travels of the first group of Russians to Iran began recently, he said, expressing hope that by facilitating travel to Iran, tourists from other countries will soon follow suit.
“The first successful instance of implementing such a plan was achieved last year for Iraqi tourists, who can now easily drive to Iran through border crossings,” the minister highlighted.
Referring to the recent ceremony held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, to celebrate World Tourism Day, Zarghami said that his deputy Maryam Jalali attended the ceremony and proposed the formation of a working group to cancel visas between the two nations.
Zarghami noted that in his message to his Saudi counterpart Sultan al-Musallam — which was conveyed by Jalali — the high official of the Saudi Ministry was invited to visit Iran, and it was decided to make the necessary planning and coordination.