TEHRAN – Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the UN Tourism, formerly (UNWTO), has warmly welcomed Iran’s decision to cancel visas with 33 countries, expressing optimism about a vibrant future for tourism for the ancient country.

Pololikashvili underscored Iran’s significant role in Asian tourism as he pointed to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

UN tourism chief made the remarks in Span during his meeting with Iran’s deputy tourism chief Ali-Asghar Shalbafian organized to schedule his upcoming visit to the Islamic Republic to attend the 17th Tehran International Tourism & Related Industries Exhibition, ILNA reported on Sunday.

Pololikashvili expressed hope that the visa waiver policy would usher in a bright and prosperous future for tourism in Iran, the report said.

The meeting also addressed the request for educational courses and facilitation of tourist entry following the visa cancellation by Iran. Discussions included showcasing Iran’s tourism, cultural heritage, and handicraft capacities, negotiations with top tourism officials, visits to tourist attractions in Isfahan, and increased collaboration with UN Tourism for the development of rural, urban, and cultural tourism.

As the UN Tourism Secretary-General prepares for his visit to Iran, these discussions set the stage for enhanced cooperation, promoting Iran’s diverse tourism offerings on the global stage.

Last December, the Iranian government agreed to drop visa requirements for passport holders from 32 countries. Moreover, it abolished visa requirements for tourist groups from Russia.

“The government intends to open the country’s doors to the world…. And this decision is both courageous and deliberate by the government,” the tourism minister Ezzatollah Zarghami said.

“The decision helps foil negative advertisements, rumors, and fear-mongering about Iran,” Zarghami said. “The scheme is expected to usher in a new era of tourism development for Iran; a new chapter of prosperity and tourism development that puts an end to negative propaganda and Iranophobia.”

The visa-waiver program was reportedly 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.

Moreover, the Islamic Republic had previously had visited cancelations with some countries like 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.

AFM