TEHRAN - In a bid to enhance the quality of services provided to tourists, Iran’s tourism ministry is set to organize a series of training workshops soon.

On Sunday, Abutaleb Qasemi, who presides over the ministry’s office for tourism studies, planning, and education, announced a plan to conduct five empowerment workshops from April 8 to 19 across 20 provinces of the country.

Qasemi stated, “Given the necessity of strengthening the skills and training of human resources in the tourism sector, organizing empowerment training courses has been prioritized as a key project.”

He emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the tourism industry, stressing the importance of equipping individuals involved in decision-making, management, local and political communities, public sectors, and tourism facilities with the necessary knowledge and skills.

The workshops are intended to cover topics such as insurance and tax regulations, quality management of tourism facilities, energy efficiency in tourism establishments, facilitation and small tourism businesses, and retraining tour guides.

Qasemi further added that the courses will be organized according to the priorities and needs of the tourism community, with specific focus areas identified for each province.

Priority will be given to training sessions on insurance and tax regulations for managers of tourism establishments, restaurants, and accommodation units, as well as energy efficiency workshops for accommodation units, targeting managers and experts from relevant government agencies such as the Department of Environment, local governorates, local communities, and tribal affairs.

Moreover, Qasemi highlighted the participation of local tourism guides in an eight-hour refresher course, aimed at familiarizing them with defined topics.

The official noted that the workshops will be conducted through licensed educational institutions in collaboration with provincial authorities, utilizing the expertise of university professors and instructors in suitable training environments such as hotels and eco-lodges.

Last year, the Iranian government abolished visa requirements for passport holders from 32 countries and waived visas for tourist groups from Russia. The visa-waiver program was approved for India, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Belarus, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

In addition, the Islamic Republic had already simplified visa requirements for some countries including Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria, in various forms - unilateral, bilateral, and group visa cancelations, including airport visas, which were implemented in some cases.

The latest data provided by the tourism ministry suggests the number of foreign arrivals in the country reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), which shows 48.5 percent compared to that of last year.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AM