TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts announced the development of a comprehensive plan to boost the country's tourism capacity.

Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri emphasized ongoing discussions with key government officials to implement the program effectively.

“We need to focus on three main areas to increase tourism in Iran,” Salehi-Amiri told reporters.

“First, we must introduce our attractions to the world. According to World Bank studies, Iran ranks seventh in global tourism appeal, but I believe we are among the top three countries in terms of cultural and heritage attractions.”

The minister highlighted infrastructure and security as two other critical aspects for expanding tourism capacity. He noted that the current [Iran’s tourism] capacity stands at 6.2 million tourists annually, but the goal is to increase this figure to 15 million.

“We have developed a set of programs and are in talks with key government figures to pursue these three areas seriously,” he added.

Salehi-Amiri also pointed to the importance of diplomatic efforts in promoting tourism, revealing that he recently held talks with the tourism ministers of several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Iraq, to prepare the groundwork for attracting more tourists.

“This Saturday, I inaugurated the sixth five-star hotel in Tehran. We are committed to building 100 hotels each year, particularly four- and five-star hotels,” he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the minister expressed optimism that the current administration will lay the necessary groundwork for tourism development, forecasting a significant increase in tourist numbers over the next year.

Earlier this month, the minister emphasized the government’s pledge to construct 100 hotels annually during a five-year development plan. He also called for greater involvement of the private sector. “While the government can address 20 percent of the infrastructure needs, private investment is crucial to filling the gap,” he said.

“We are committed to making significant strides in the tourism industry, and [adequate] infrastructure is a fundamental part of this development,” Salehi Amiri said.

“Investment in the tourism sector will also see a substantial increase, with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage raising its commitment from €224 million to €500 million,” the minister said.

Iran’s tourism industry witnessed a 21% upsurge in 2023, signaling a strong recovery in the post-COVID-19, according to data compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council. According to the WTTC, the increase was part of a broader recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the industry plummet by 45% in 2020.

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 28 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AM