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Minister: Iran bent on removing tourism barriers, boosting ties with Saudi Arabia
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri, announced significant plans to enhance tourism connections with Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries, including Bahrain and Kuwait.
Speaking at a conference held in Tehran on December 29, Salehi Amiri emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating barriers for tourism operators and fostering international tourism.
“The will of the government and the president, along with other state institutions such as the Parliament and the Judiciary, is to remove obstacles facing tourism operators,” he said.
He stressed the need to move beyond the daily challenges in the tourism sector and to identify and eliminate the factors hindering growth.
Salehi Amiri noted that flight services from Saudi Arabia to Mashhad have commenced, with Riyadh seeking to increase the number of flights.
He also mentioned that preparations are underway to facilitate the entry of tourists from Bahrain and Kuwait in the future.
In addressing the current state of tourism, he stated, “We must avoid despair and seriously focus on attracting tourists.”
The minister outlined one of the government’s key initiatives: To identify various sectors for attracting tourists from different countries, prioritizing those in the Nowruz cultural sphere initially, followed by assessing additional potential markets.
Salehi Amiri also revealed that Iran has around 2,700 ongoing projects, including 550 hotel projects. “We plan to open 100 hotels annually and provide facilities to investors,” he added.
He emphasized that the tourism sector’s recovery post-COVID-19 relies heavily on travel agencies and related entities, describing them as the “motor of Iran’s tourism industry.”
Additionally, Salehi Amiri pointed out Iran’s rich cultural heritage, stating, “Iran holds a valuable place in cultural heritage and historic identity.”
He cited the historical region of Jiroft as an example of Iran’s significant historical treasures.
He urged for innovative means to present these values to the world and combat the phenomenon of Iranophobia.
In conclusion, Amiri reaffirmed the importance of all sectors within the tourism industry, stating, “All parts of the tourism sector are significant to us, and we will support them. We believe that tourism agencies connect all elements of the industry.”