700 domestic, foreign firms to attend Tehran tourism exhibition
The 18th International Tourism Exhibition in Tehran will commence on Wednesday, with the participation of 12 countries and approximately 700 domestic and foreign companies, in the presence of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Announcing the above, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts added that the international exhibition will take place from February 13 to 15 at the International Exhibition Center in Tehran.
Addressing the press conference, Anoushiravan Mohseni Bandpey said that representatives from countries including the UAE, Turkey, Madagascar, Tajikistan, Qatar, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, and Russia, with two booths each, will participate in the exhibition, which has allocated 395 square meters for foreign booths, IRNA reported.
He said that eight foreign delegations have also expressed their willingness to attend the exhibition, adding that besides tourism activists 500 domestic and foreign officials have been invited to the opening ceremony, which will be held in the Hall of the International Conference Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Summit Hall) with the attendance of Pezeshkian.
Meanwhile, addressing the same press meeting, the Director General of Domestic Tourism Development at the ministry stated that 700 domestic and foreign companies will participate in the event, with dedicated halls for food, children, and geotourism.
According to Mohseni Bandpey, based on experiences from previous exhibitions, the strengths have been enhanced, and weaknesses have been addressed.
The deputy minister emphasized, “We have aimed to showcase Iran’s various attractions, including water resources, ecotourism, and child-friendly culinary experiences, so that both domestic and foreign tourists can benefit from them.”
Highlighting the role of tourism in economic, political, cultural, and social aspects, he remarked, “Tourism is the most significant source of income for countries. Moreover, it allows us to showcase historical sites that reflect a nation’s identity. When political issues or interactions reach a stalemate, we can leverage tourism. For instance, in addressing the perception of Iran, we can utilize tourism as a tool to shift perspectives. The 18th tourism exhibition will be held with these approaches.”
Mohseni Bandpey emphasized that the exhibition will feature 20 workshops led by 27 distinguished instructors in the tourism field, along with 10 educational panels. Additionally, student associations from various disciplines, representatives of creative students, and foreign students studying in Iran will be invited as ambassadors from their respective countries to visit the exhibition, aiming to institutionalize tourism as a significant discussion in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism noted, “Many countries have moved beyond investing in vehicles, and the average marketing expenditure per tourist abroad is five dollars, while in Iran it is merely two and a half cents. I hope we can capitalize on the existing resources within the country, such as beautiful beaches, priceless ancient sites, health tourism, and magnificent shrines to boost tourism.”
He added that while there are security infrastructures in place to attract tourists, challenges remain in the area of air transportation; therefore, strengthening tourism infrastructure should be considered a strategic priority. The deputy minister of tourism stated that tourism is a “white industry,” and incentives such as customs exemptions for importing tourism facilities and tax exemptions for hotels and ecotourism facilities utilizing renewable energy have been planned.
Mohseni Bandpey further noted that to promote tourism and its benefits for all segments of society, affordable travel options have been put in place. In this regard, agreements have been reached with pension organizations, welfare agencies, and hotel associations to allow individuals to travel at lower costs.
He mentioned that there are 1,470 hotels in the country, with 143 of them rated four to five stars. To prevent owners of one- to three-star hotels from raising accommodation costs, they have been exempted from paying taxes.