TEHRAN - The western tourism axis of Iran will be highlighted at the Sulaymaniyah International Tourism Exhibition in Iraq, scheduled to take place in late September, to attract foreign tourists and boost international cooperation.

“The event will feature the joint participation of the cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts departments of Kermanshah, Kordestan, and Hamadan provinces,” Darius Farmani, Kermanshah’s tourism chief, announced in a meeting with the province’s health tourism officials on Monday.

Attending the Sulaymaniyah International Tourism Exhibition, he emphasized, represents a significant opportunity to promote Kermanshah province.

“Iraq and its [semi-autonomous] Kurdistan region are key target markets for attracting foreign tourists, and expanding cooperation with this area is a priority for us,” he said.

Farmani noted that participating in international exhibitions provides a valuable platform for tourism promotion, showcasing the province’s capabilities, conducting international negotiations, and signing cooperation agreements.

He also revealed that a package featuring Kermanshah’s tourist attractions, presented through visual clips, will be displayed at the exhibition.

Special attention will be given to the province’s accommodation facilities, which will be prominently featured to highlight the local lodging options, according to the official.

Farmani also mentioned that the province will utilize the services of travel agencies and tour guides to further promote the region.

“Given the collective participation of Kermanshah, Kordestan, and Hamadan provinces, the exhibition will focus on introducing the western tourism corridor of Iran,” he continued.

Farmani pointed out that the province’s health tourism sector is particularly poised for active participation in the exhibition, potentially playing a significant role. “In Kermanshah, we can leverage the capacity of the University of Medical Sciences to hold an international health tourism exhibition in the near future,” he added.

The Sulaymaniyah International Tourism Exhibition is scheduled to take place from September 26 to 29, coinciding with World Tourism Day (September 27).

Over the past couple of years, western Iranian provinces have held several meetings to discuss ways to expand tourism, bringing together local officials, hoteliers, travel agents, and tour operators from provinces of Lorestan, Ilam, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad, Kermanshah, Kordestan, Hamedan, Zanjan and East Azarbaijan, amongst others.

“Introducing the lesser-known or less-favored travel destinations is part of the ministry’s policies,” an official with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts on September 30, 2021, noted. “Paying more attention to the western axis of the country is in line with those strategies.”

“The west axis is our concern for tourism, which we intend to raise at [various] international tourism conferences,” the official stated.

Qasemi added that off-the-beaten-track destinations are becoming more popular as a new trend worldwide. “Tourism has diversified and different excursions can be offered to tourists, so we have to introduce new tourism routes.”

XF/AM