TEHRAN - Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, has met with UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

They discussed cooperation in the tourism sector and explored ways to continue and strengthen collaboration.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the World Tourism Day celebration in Tbilisi, Georgia on September 27.

Salehi-Amiri presented three major international tourism projects currently under consideration in Iran, seeking support from the UN body for their implementation.

The minister highlighted the establishment of an international center in Iran dedicated to the development, promotion, and applied research of handicrafts; playing host to the Urban Tourism Summit in Tehran, which would bring together mayors from global tourist cities, and organize affordable or free tourism training courses for Iranian professionals under the auspices of the UN Tourism.

In response, Pololikashvili praised Iran’s significant contributions to the global tourism industry and expressed his gratitude for Iran's role in promoting various tourism events.

Moreover, he acknowledged Iran's efforts and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement soon regarding the three projects presented by Salehi-Amiri.

Iran’s tourism industry witnessed a 21% upsurge in 2023, signaling a strong recovery in the post-COVID-19, according to data compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council. According to the WTTC, the increase was part of a broader recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the industry plummet by 45% in 2020.

In comparison, the years 2021 and 2022 boasted growth rates of 40% and 39%, the data revealed.   As per records, Iran’s tourism sector not only expanded its share to 4.7% of the national economy in 2023 but also boosted its market value to 7400 trillion rials.

The rate of employment in this sector grew by 10.3%, with 1.6 million people working in tourism, which accounts for 6.6% of the country's total employment, according to the WTTC report.  Furthermore, WTTC forecasts that in 2024, the tourism industry in the Islamic Republic will continue its upward trajectory with a predicted growth of 12.1%, potentially reaching a market value of 8300 trillion rials.  As revealed by the annual report, foreign tourists in Iran spent a substantial 700 trillion rials in 2023, showcasing an 83.6% increase compared to the previous 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 28 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AM