TEHRAN – Medical tourism is a significant area for developing tourism between Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, West Azarbaijan’s governor-general said on Monday.

In an interview with CHTN, Mohammad-Sadeq Mo’tamedian highlighted the achievements of the second meeting of border governors-general from both regions, leading to several agreements.
The meeting, he added, included the governors-general from Iran’s West Azarbaijan, Kordestan, and Kermanshah provinces, and their counterparts from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The official revealed plans to establish a dedicated ambulance route to facilitate the movement of patients between the two regions. 
“Annually, many travelers from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq visit West Azarbaijan for medical treatment.” Mo’tamedian emphasized. “Easing their travel can significantly enhance health tourism.”
The governor general also mentioned that further steps discussed at the meeting to bolster this initiative include 24-hour customs operations, specialized gates at border terminals, completion of transit infrastructure, expanding highways, resolving direct transportation issues, and opening new border crossings.
Mo’tamedian pointed to the long-standing relationship between Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, underscoring cultural and religious commonalities and good neighborly relations as key factors in strengthening bilateral ties.
In his concluding remarks, he noted that considering the use of the Tamarchin border crossing for the third consecutive year for Arbaeen pilgrims, officials from the Kurdistan Region have expressed readiness to host pilgrims, which is expected to significantly boost religious tourism in the province.
XF/AM