TEHRAN—The Iranian tourism minister has proposed a visa cancellation program to be established among member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

On Thursday, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicraft Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami said the Islamic Republic welcomes initiatives such as a visa waiver program that help deepen tourism ties among the ECO member states.

“Iran is doing its best to facilitate the presence of tourists from the member countries, and with the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are moving towards the elimination of visas between the member states,” the minister added.

Zarghami made the remarks in an address to the 5th ECO Ministerial Meeting, which was hosted by Iran’s Ardabil, the 2023 ECO Tourism Capital.

ECO member countries with about 500 million people constitute a vast hub of commerce, culture, and history, all of which is a great blessing for tourism, the minister said.

“We invite you to visit Iran attractions such as UNESCO-registered gardens and see how Iranians preserved their environment well throughout its history,” Zarghami said.

Ardabil’s tourism chief, Hassan Mohammadiadib, has voiced hope that the event set the ground for further tourism boost, local economy and related businesses. “For our guests, in addition to meetings and conferences, we have organized detailed programs such as visits to natural and historical attractions along Ardabil province,” the official said.

As mentioned by Mohammadiadib, Ardabil’s designation as the 2023 ECO Tourism Capital has created a good capacity for tourism development. “So, we should grasp this unique opportunity,” the official said. “We can easily use this unique capacity to introduce our cultural heritage, travel destinations, and ancient handicrafts.”

Ali Bahadori Jahromi, the spokesman for the Iranian government, has said Ardabil 2023 should be observed as an opportunity to strengthen local tourism. “Foreign tourists can benefit greatly from this event in gaining knowledge of the tourism capabilities of the country, especially those of Ardabil,” Bahadori Jahromi said.

Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, Ardabil is well known for having abundant natural beauty, hospitable people, and its silk and carpet trade tradition. It is also home to the UNESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and the Shrine Ensemble.

Ardabil province is freezing in winter and mild in summer, attracting thousands every year. The capital city of Ardabil is usually recorded as one of the coldest cities in the country in winter.

AFM