Iran plans tourism event in September to attract global operators
The Iranian Association of Travel Agencies (IATA) has confirmed plans to host a larger tourism event this September, following requests from major international tour operators after last week’s gathering of 145 operators from 33 countries.
The event, set to take place in early September, will be a major expansion of the recent B2B meetings, said Hormatollah Rafiei, the association's president, IRNA reported.
Speaking at a press conference on May 4, Rafiei explained that the demand from global tour operators for access to Iran had increased significantly following the success of last week’s event.
The event, held in conjunction with the 7th Iran Expo exhibition, was the first time tourism had been included in the Expo and proved to be a key platform for fostering international collaboration.
Rafiei revealed that the B2B sessions in Tehran and Kish had yielded promising results, with 120 Iranian tour operators meeting their counterparts from around the world. However, due to space limitations, some foreign operators were unable to participate, prompting the association to organize a larger event in September.
“Due to the high demand from foreign agencies, we have decided to host an even larger event, without relying on government support,” Rafiei said.
He added that the focus would be on neighboring countries such as India, Pakistan, Russia, and Iraq, which together account for over 80% of inbound tourism to Iran.
Although the Iranian government had previously announced plans to bring international tour operators to the country, the association took the lead in organizing the event after delays from the private sector.
Rafiei emphasized that the primary goal of the association is to ensure the arrival of "real" tourists, stating that "we need to focus on bringing genuine tourists, not just boosting numbers."
He further expressed concern over the challenges faced by Iran's tourism sector, pointing to the lack of investment from both private and government sectors. "Iran is still struggling to realise the true potential of its tourism industry," Rafiei said, referencing the ongoing financial and logistical obstacles the sector faces.
In addition to the upcoming September event, Rafiei underscored the importance of focusing on neighboring countries for tourism growth, citing the examples of France and Turkey, whose tourism industries are heavily reliant on nearby regions.
Despite these efforts, Rafiei noted that the Iranian tourism sector is still grappling with significant issues such as high costs, excessive taxation, and bureaucratic hurdles, which continue to impede the industry's development.