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Iran mounts strong presence at Islamabad’s Global Destinations Expo
Iran fielded one of the most active delegations at this year’s Global Destinations Expo, a two-day tourism fair held on December 1–2 at Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel, where more than 20 foreign missions and 30 Pakistani companies sought new regional travel partnerships.
Ambassador Reza Amiri-Moghaddam and Iran’s Cultural Attaché, Majid Meshki, represented Tehran as Pakistan’s Discover Pakistan network and the state-run Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation gathered diplomats, provincial tourism officials and private operators for what organizers described as an attempt to “reset” cross-border travel and widen commercial ties, ISNA reported.
The fair drew delegations from Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe, including teams from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Exhibitors said Iran’s stand ranked among the most visited, with the team showcasing medical-tourism packages, pilgrimage routes, heritage cities and leisure destinations aimed at drawing operators into fresh contracts.
The Islamabad expo was designed to bring unfamiliar destinations onto regional itineraries, strengthen shared tourism infrastructure and encourage investment in integrated travel corridors. They billed the event as part of a broader drive to “open new routes” and build long-term cooperation between public agencies and private firms.
Iran’s private sector used the fair for tightly scheduled talks with Pakistani and foreign partners, discussing joint corridor plans, new marketing strategies for each other’s destinations and ways to improve visitor flows between the two neighbors.
Delegates also explored investment prospects and employment opportunities tied to Iran–Pakistan tourism projects.
The expo closed on December 2 with Pakistan’s National Tourism Awards, which recognized domestic contributors and foreign partners.