Tehran – Iran has organized a tourism roadshow in Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to highlight its diverse tourism opportunities.

The event featured active participation from the western provinces of Kordestan, Kermanshah, and Hamedan, showcasing their cultural, historical, and recreational attractions to regional stakeholders.

Attending the roadshow on Friday, the deputy minister of tourism Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, highlighted the initiative as part of the tourism ministry’s strategy to foster collaboration between private sectors in target markets.

Shalbafian emphasized the importance of promoting tourism through roadshows in emerging markets and for the countries that the Islamic Republic has [unilaterally] waived visa requirements, aiming to strengthen regional tourism ties.

“This year, Iran has hosted roadshows in several countries, including India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the neighboring Turkey, and Iraq,” Shalbafian noted.

Highlighting the significance of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in tourism exchanges, the official said that the Sulaymaniyah event provided a platform for showcasing Iran’s tourism potential, with active participation from travel agencies, healthcare providers, and tourism representatives from both sides.

The roadshow drew participation from 50 Iranian travel agencies, hospitals, and tourism facilitators, alongside over 50 agencies and representatives from the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the official explained.

The event focused on promoting Iran's historical, cultural, recreational, and medical tourism opportunities as well.

Shalbafian also detailed special facilities offered to Iraqi tourists, such as visa exemptions and simplified travel procedures, including vehicular transit across various Iranian cities.

According to organizers, the roadshow enjoyed an active engagement by private sector representatives from Iran’s western provinces of Kermanshah, Kordestan, and Hamedan.

These provinces demonstrated their tourism potential and facilitated discussions with counterparts from the Kurdistan Region to expand business and tourism ties, Shalbafian said.

The roadshow also coincided with Iran’s participation in the Sulaymaniyah Tourism Expo, reinforcing efforts to position the country as a premier destination for regional visitors.

Iran 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.

Last year, the country unilaterally waived visas for citizens of approximately 30 countries including India, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, and Mexico.

According to available data compiled by the tourism ministry, more than six million foreign tourists arrived by air, road, and sea in the country during the past Iranian calendar year, which came to an end on March 19. The figure marks a substantial year-on-year increase compared to a year earlier (1401) in which approximately 4.23 million tourists visited the Islamic Republic.

AM