Tehran, Moscow expand tourism diplomacy with new travel initiative
Iran and Russia moved to deepen tourism diplomacy and public engagement during talks in Moscow, agreeing to expand cultural cooperation, facilitate travel and strengthen tourism exchanges as part of a broader effort to turn their long-standing civilizational ties into practical partnerships, Iranian officials said.
Meeting on the sidelines of the sixth International Tourism Forum in Moscow, Hojjatollah Ayoubi, head of the Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy at Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, and Russian Deputy Culture Minister Andrey Malyshov discussed measures to remove barriers to travel, promote joint tourism initiatives and broaden cultural cooperation between the two countries, IRNA reported.
The forum opened on June 10 and will run through June 14 at VDNH in Moscow.
The talks followed the signing of a 2026-2028 tourism cooperation roadmap by Tehran and Moscow on June 11, a plan aimed at improving air connectivity, facilitating payments, implementing existing agreements and boosting visitor flows between the two countries.
Ayoubi said tourism and cultural diplomacy had become among the most effective tools for bringing nations closer together and opening new avenues of cooperation. He described Iran and Russia as countries with deep historical and cultural roots that can draw on their shared civilizational assets to foster stronger people-to-people ties.
“Cultural and tourism cooperation can help build trust, strengthen regional convergence and create new horizons for collaboration,” he said.
The two sides agreed to pursue closer cooperation in tourism marketing, destination promotion and the use of modern digital tools to showcase attractions in both countries. They also discussed measures to simplify travel procedures and encourage greater engagement between tourism operators.
Ayoubi said Iran was well positioned to attract a larger share of Russia’s outbound tourism market, citing the country’s rich cultural heritage, diverse historical and natural attractions, hospitality traditions and growing health tourism sector.