TEHRAN—There is a need for more investment in Ilam’s medical tourism sector, the provincial tourism chief has said.

There is a great deal of potential for medical tourism in the province, so more investment could lead to a boom in the industry, CHTN quoted Farzad Sharifi as saying on Sunday.

Private sector investors are welcomed in this field, and the province will facilitate their work, the official added.

However, the tourism infrastructure of the province needs to be further developed, he noted.

In addition, Mehran, a key crossing point for Iraqi health tourists on the Iran-Iraq border, needs to be reorganized, he mentioned.

Back in December, joint meetings were held between Iraqi travel insiders and tourism activists of the province to become familiar with the province’s medical tourism potential and to develop a strong partnership between the two nations in the health tourism sector.

Ilam is located in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains in the western region of Iran. Unlike the north and northwest part of this province, which are mountainous, the west and southwest are flat. It is a suitable place for nomad life since the geographical conditions are favorable for summer and winter relocation.

According to available data, Iran hosts an average of one million medical tourists each year. “About one million medical tourists, mainly from the neighboring countries, arrive in Iran annually,” Mohammadreza Tarjoman, who presides over the Health Ministry’s tourism office, said in April.

“The majority of inbound medical passengers come from the neighboring countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan,” the official said. Talking about hospitals and clinics, he said a selection of 200 Iranian medical centers have permission to accept foreign patients.

ABU/AM