TEHRAN - The Iranian Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has extended an invitation to Russian firms to invest in Iran's tourism infrastructure.

He made the remarks on Friday during a specialized meeting on Iran-Russia relations, attended by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, along with Russian federal and provincial officials.

He made the remarks in an address to the 15th Economic Cooperation Summit of the Russia – Islamic World (Kazan Forum). The annual event, held from May 15-18, aims to strengthen Russia’s ties with Islamic countries, IRNA reported.

Highlighting tourism as a significant potential area for collaboration, Jalali emphasized the opportunities for Russian firms to invest in developing Iran’s tourism infrastructure and building hotels.

Responding to a question about the necessity of preparing infrastructure to enhance tourism relations between the two countries, Jalali said that tourism infrastructures are somewhat ready to start operations. He mentioned that regions such as Kish Island have suitable hotels and recreational areas, but naturally, more hotels are needed.

Additionally, Jalali proposed the establishment of direct flights between cities in Iran and Russia to further boost tourism. He pointed out that Iran’s southern islands, with their moderate weather during the cold season, could attract Russian tourists.

He noted that different cities in Iran, such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Rasht, and Tabriz, have the potential to establish direct flights between the two countries.

“In this regard, one of the Russian companies has expressed its readiness, with the matter currently being pursued.”

Furthermore, the ambassador suggested enhancing bilateral cooperation by setting up trade houses to facilitate business activities between the two countries.

So far, the Islamic Republic has initiated several measures to ease travel and enhance accessibility in a bid to position itself as a top tourist destination for Russians.

Last year, Tehran and Moscow introduced a visa-free exchange program, allowing tour group travelers to visit without the hassle of obtaining a visa.

However, the move, at the beginning, notably sparked more interest among Iranian tourists compared to their Russian counterparts.

Statistics reveal a significant contrast in the utilization of this opportunity. By the end of 2023, around 29,500 travelers from Iran had journeyed to Russia, while only about 10,700 Russians visited Iran.

To further stimulate tourism from Russia, authorities from both countries are actively working on enabling payments with "Mir" cards within Iran. This initiative aims to streamline financial transactions for Russian travelers, enhancing their overall experience in Iran.

As Iran endeavors to establish itself as a tourist hotspot, these developments mark significant strides in fostering closer ties between the two nations and opening up new avenues for cultural exchange and tourism.

More than six million foreign tourists arrived by air, road, and sea in Iran during the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 19.

Last year, Iran set the stage for the unilateral abolition of visa requirements for citizens of 32 countries, which took effect on February 4.

The visa-waiver program was 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.

Additionally, the Islamic Republic has previously had visa cancellations with some countries like Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria, in various forms - unilateral, bilateral, and group visa cancellations, including airport visas, which were implemented in some cases. The privilege has been granted to tourist groups from Russia based on a mutual agreement inked between Tehran and Moscow.

AM