Iran eyes tourism pacts with UAE, Mexico, Ghana, UNWTO support
Iran’s deputy tourism chief held a series of high-level meetings on Thursday on the sidelines of the 49th Executive Council session of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), discussing deeper cooperation with officials from the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, and Ghana.
Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpei, deputy minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, led Iran’s delegation during the sessions in Segovia, pushing to strengthen "people-to-people ties" and expand cultural and tourism diplomacy, IRNA reported.
In a sit-down with UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, both sides underscored the importance of shared cultural roots and "close geography" in shaping regional connectivity.
Bandpei floated joint projects in health tourism, ecotourism, and arts-based travel, proposing tailor-made packages and cultural exchanges.
The Emirati side welcomed the ideas, calling tourism a “strategic necessity” and expressed hope for a “clear jump” in bilateral ties through “practical planning.” Toward the end of the meeting, Al Hashimy requested Iran’s backing for the UAE-supported candidate in the race for UNWTO Secretary-General.
Iran responded that it would make its final decision based on “professional standards,” qualifications, and national interests, after reviewing all candidates’ full documentation.
Later, in talks with Mexican officials, including the country’s tourism minister, discussions turned to training, branding, and cross-border travel promotion. The Mexican delegation offered to share expertise and sought Iran’s support for its own candidate in the UNWTO leadership race.
Bandpei pointed to shared civilizational heritage as fertile ground for deeper diplomatic and cultural engagement. “Cultural and tourism cooperation is the missing link,” he said, stressing the long-term potential of sustained cultural initiatives.
In another meeting, Iran and Ghana explored partnerships in medical tourism and ecotourism. Ghana’s foreign and tourism ministers both welcomed Iranian proposals and echoed calls for deeper technical collaboration.
A Ghanaian candidate also laid out reform plans for the UNWTO post, calling for equitable hiring across member states and a shift away from what he described as “political bias” in the organization’s approach to global disputes.