TEHRAN – A shipping line between the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, southern Hormozgan province, and Oman’s Musandam Governorate will resume operation in the near future.

Cultural and social affinities between Oman and Iran indicate that the tourism passenger line between the two countries must be developed and continued, Hormozgan’s tourism chief said on Wednesday.

In addition to the development of maritime tourism in the province, the strengthening of the Iran-Oman ferry route will provide opportunities for economic activists to identify the capacities of the two countries, which will provide a platform for more investment, Mohammad Mohseni added.

Over the past couple of years, the Islamic Republic has made various efforts to exploit maritime tourism potential by developing hospitality infrastructures, diversifying sea routes, and drawing private sector investors along its vast southern coasts.

Prosperous maritime tourism could help the county to meet its ambitious target of attracting 20 million annual tourists by 2025. It also keeps an eye on tourism developments in the Caspian Sea in the north.

Back in February, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop maritime tourism and make the best use of its potential on the southern and northern coasts of the country.

Promoting the culture of using the sea as a tool to increase social vitality, developing coastal activities in the form of environmentally friendly plans and programs, and creating the necessary grounds for cooperation and exchange of knowledge and information were also among the topics of the agreement.

ABU/AM