Iran launches tourism investment push to fuel sector revival
Iran will establish a dedicated Tourism Investment Support Headquarters and expand digital infrastructure in rural areas as part of a plan to accelerate tourism-led growth, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Saturday, signaling a renewed push to strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic development and cultural diplomacy.
Speaking at separate meetings with tourism investors and Communications and Information Technology Minister Sattar Hashemi in Tehran, Salehi-Amiri said the government views tourism infrastructure and investment as key drivers of growth, national prestige and international engagement, CHTN reported.
“We believe tourism will experience significant growth in the post-war period,” Salehi-Amiri said. “From today, we must prepare the ground for investment, infrastructure development and greater capacity to welcome visitors.”
The minister announced the formation of a Tourism Investment Support Headquarters within the ministry and said one day each week would be devoted exclusively to resolving investors’ concerns and removing administrative hurdles.
More than 3,000 tourism projects are currently under development across the country, including 561 hotels under construction, reflecting what officials described as strong private-sector confidence in Iran’s tourism potential.
Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, head of the ministry’s investment center, said 3,017 tourism projects were underway, with Tehran, Khorasan Razavi and Isfahan accounting for the largest share.
Salehi-Amiri identified the Makran coast and marine tourism as among the country’s foremost investment priorities, adding that support packages and incentives had been prepared to attract new capital and expedite project implementation.
In a parallel effort to broaden tourism’s economic footprint, the ministry and the Communications Ministry are drafting a joint program linking high-speed internet, rural tourism and handicrafts to job creation and reverse migration.
“The future of rural development depends on connecting local economies, tourism, handicrafts and modern communication technologies,” Salehi-Amiri said. “Employment and connectivity are the two wings of rural development.”
He said strategies centered on “one eco-lodge in every village” and “one family handicrafts workshop in every village” would help generate sustainable employment and revive local economies.
The minister noted that around 4.7 million travelers visited Iranian villages during the Nowruz holidays this year, describing the trend as evidence of growing demand for authentic cultural experiences, nature-based tourism and rural lifestyles.
“If we effectively link employment, tourism, handicrafts and communications infrastructure,” he said, “Iran’s villages can emerge over the next decade as dynamic centers of living, production and investment.”