Direct Tehran-Minsk flights to revive bilateral tourism
Iran and Belarus are moving to revive bilateral tourism by paving the way for direct flights between Tehran and Minsk, officials said at a tourism cooperation meeting in Tehran on Sunday, as both countries push to implement a tourism agreement signed by their presidents during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Minsk in August 2025.
The meeting brought together Belarusian Ambassador to Tehran Dmitry Koltsov, officials from Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Foreign Ministry, the Iran Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers, tour operators and tourism executives, who stressed the need to translate strong political ties into tangible cooperation in the travel sector.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran views tourism as one of the most effective tools of international diplomacy," said Moslem Shojaei, director general of the ministry's Office of International Tourism Marketing and Development. He emphasized that expanding tourism relations with Belarus "should be driven by the private sector," while the government provides the necessary framework for cooperation.
Shojaei noted that Belarus has been designated as one of Iran's target tourism markets and that Belarusian citizens have been able to visit Iran without visas since 2023.
He also proposed establishing a joint technical tourism committee and invited Belarusian travel companies to participate in an upcoming gathering of international tour operators in Iran.
A major breakthrough appears to be within reach after Belarus completed the regulatory steps required for direct air services.
"Following Mahan Air's trial flight two years ago, the Civil Aviation Department of Belarus has issued all the necessary permits for direct flights," Ambassador Dmitry Koltsov said. "Iranian airlines can now launch the route."
Koltsov said the tourism cooperation agreement signed during President Pezeshian's visit to Minsk is now entering the implementation stage, with the relevant organizations working to put the required infrastructure in place. "We can expect to witness real growth in tourism between Iran and Belarus," he said.
Mostafa Mousavi, head of the Tourism Commission at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, described the absence of direct flights as the biggest obstacle to expanding tourism and broader economic ties. He said stronger tourism exchanges could also stimulate trade, investment and business cooperation, proposing joint working groups on aviation connectivity, travel package development and medical tourism.
Koltsov also encouraged Iranian tour operators to attend Belarus' annual international tourism exhibition, saying the event would provide "a good starting point" for expanding cooperation between tourism businesses in the two countries.