Iran Seeks to Expand Tourism Cooperation with Regional and International Partners

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri held separate meetings on Sunday with senior officials from Indonesia, China, India, Iraq, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, focusing on ways to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Riyadh, where Minister Salehi-Amiri highlighted the importance of tourism diplomacy, cultural collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges as key drivers of mutual understanding and development.

Emphasizing Iran’s rich and diverse heritage, the minister stated:

“Iran, with its remarkable cultural, climatic, and historical diversity, is ready to take effective steps toward expanding cooperation in tourism, cultural heritage, handicrafts, and research with friendly and partner countries.”

Salehi-Amiri noted that despite strong historical and cultural bonds, the current level of tourist exchange between Iran and many regional countries remains below its potential. He stressed the need to introduce the real and cultural image of Iran to a wider international audience.

“The real, beautiful, and cultural image of Iran must become better known to the world,” he said. “We are ready to host tourists from various countries and, at the same time, to facilitate the dispatch of Iranian tour operators and tourism professionals abroad.”

The series of meetings reflected Iran’s proactive approach to strengthening international cooperation in tourism, positioning the sector as a bridge for cultural dialogue and economic growth within the broader framework of regional partnership and sustainable development.