Iran eyes more foreign tourists to rake in $6b in five years
Persian-Tajik Cultural Research Institute opens
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri, announced a comprehensive five-year plan aimed at generating $6 billion in revenue and attracting 200,000 tourists each year.
The minister made this declaration during a meeting with a high-ranking Iranian trade delegation and Tajik officials, highlighting the importance of strengthening tourism ties between the two nations, IRNA reported.
Speaking at an economic symposium, Salehi Amiri underscored Tajikistan’s role as a crucial link for Iran to access the Caucasus and Eurasia, emphasizing the substantial economic potential of such collaboration.
He stated, “The identity of both nations is one, and what both people take pride in is rooted in this shared identity.”
The necessity of transforming this cultural connection into economic collaborations, the minister highlighted.
To boost tourism, he announced ambitious plans to increase the number of tourists traveling between the two countries. “We aim to elevate the number of tourists from 8,500 to 100,000,” he declared, outlining strategies to enhance the introduction of tourism attractions and cultural values to both nations.
He remarked, “Last year, Iran welcomed 1.2 million health tourists, generating $2 billion. We aim to triple that revenue and significantly increase our tourist numbers.”
In addition, the minister announced plans to facilitate visa waivers between the two countries, with discussions on this matter expected to conclude during the visit of the Iranian president to Tajikistan.
The symposium also resulted in multiple cooperation agreements signed between Iranian and Tajik companies, providing opportunities for direct negotiations among economic stakeholders.
Salehi Amiri concluded that strengthening tourism ties will not only fortify cultural relations but also contribute to economic development and job creation in both nations.
On the sidelines of the economic delegation’s visit, a Persian-Tajik Cultural Research Institute opened to aims to enhance cultural and economic ties between Iran and Tajikistan.
The institute was officially opened with the presence of Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Matloba Khan Sattar Yan Aman Zadeh, Tajikistan’s Minister of Culture, and Samad Hassanzadeh, President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce.
During the opening ceremony, Salehi Amiri remarked, “Today is a blessed day for the two nations of Iran and Tajikistan. The sweet Persian language is one of the main elements of the cultural identity that binds us.”
He underscored that despite global conflicts, “what remains enduring is the connection of the Tajik and Iranian people through the Persian language.”
He further noted that the legacy of poets like Ferdowsi is crucial for maintaining this cultural heritage.
The minister expressed belief that the establishment of the Persian-Tajik Cultural Research Institute “can pave the way for further collaboration,” introducing the first research project focused on exploring the linguistic roots of both nations.
He stated, “I will task the Faculty of Linguistics of the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies to complete this project, with copies of the findings presented to the presidents of both countries, underscoring our lasting bond.”