TEHRAN – Aimed at presenting Iran’s tourism capacities to a neighboring country, “Picturesque Iran” conference has taken place in Pakistan’s Karachi.

On Saturday night, the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karachi played host to a number of Pakistanis tourism activists, IRNA reported. The guests included more than 170 managers and representatives from Pakistani travel agencies and airlines.

Some local officials along with several consul generals from different countries were also invited to the Iranian tourism gathering.

Shedding light on available opportunities between the two nations, Hassan Nourian, Iranian consul general to Karachi appreciated Pakistan’s positive approach to boosting bilateral tourism ties.

“Boosting tourism and paving the way for pilgrims’ travels, are our priorities,” he highlighted. “Easing the process of establishing Karachi-Mashhad flight route is among the measures taken.”

Some Iranian airlines, Nourian continued, have expressed enthusiasm towards initiating new flight routes between the two countries.

Considering the cultural, religious, and social commonalities among Iran and Pakistan, a wide range of tourism capacities are available to be exploited by the two neighboring countries, the consul general highlighted.

Nourian added that based on Pakistan’s geographical richness, advanture tourism, a type of tourism in which tourists engage in adventure activities such as trekking, climbing, rafting, scuba diving, or the likes, is a potential sector for Iranian visitors.

Moreover, he pointed to the private sector as a key player in bolstering bilateral relations in the tourism field.

Enhancing infrastructures on the borders between Iran and Pakistan is a momentous measure to draw more tourists, which is in need of special attention, he further noted.

“With special attention to the enhancement of infrastructures in borders,” he further noted. “more Pakistani tourists and pilgrims are expected to enter Iran.”

At the end of the event, some free round tickets, sponsored by Iran Air and Taban Airlines were given to the guests as a measure to familiarize the travelers with Iran’s tourism capacities.

XF/AM