TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Iran kicked off a Tourism Roadshow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, aiming to strengthen bilateral tourism ties between the two Muslim-majority countries.

Ali Asghar Shalbafian, Iran's Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, attended the event, emphasizing the Iranian government's efforts to enhance tourism and attract investment.

Shalbafian mentioned that the ministry had invited renowned travel agencies to participate in the roadshow. "The government has received a positive response from global travel businesses and individuals recognizing Iran's potential as a tourist destination. This initiative will help counteract media distortions about the country," he told Bernama.

The event saw participation from over 100 representatives of Iranian and Malaysian travel companies, featuring a B2B session. To attract tourists, Iran has waived visa requirements for more than half of the world's population, including Malaysia and most Southeast Asian countries.

Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, Iran's ambassador to Malaysia, stressed the importance of opening Iran to tourism, highlighting the country's numerous attractive destinations and the positive impact tourism could have on Iran's image. Nasrabadi acknowledged that Iran's reputation has suffered due to negative perceptions, which he deemed unfounded. "Opening up Iran for tourism offers many benefits, including economic and social potentials, as well as advancements in science and technology. We invite people from all over the world to visit Iran and experience the reality of the country," he said.

Earlier this week, on Monday, Iran also launched its first-ever tourism roadshow in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, aiming to boost bilateral tourism ties.

The event, which was part of Iran’s framework of Tourism Roadshow Southeast Asia 2024, featured key officials and private sector leaders from both nations and showcased Iran’s diverse travel offerings.

Recently, Iran extended tourist visa exemptions to 28 additional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, Tanzania, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, and India.

AM