Dushanbe Seeks Broadening Tourism Cooperation With Tehran
TEHRAN (Iran News)
Speaking at a Tajikistan-Iran Tourism Roadshow held at the Embassy of Tajikistan, Mr Zohidi pointed to the good relation between the two countries and recent developments in bilateral ties like revoking visa waiver between the two states.
He announced that the visa waiver agreement between the two countries will soon be revised.
He mentioned that visa-free travel between Iran and Tajikistan has been in effect for about 14 days, but currently, only travelers flying between Tehran and Dushanbe are eligible for visa exemption. He added that in the near future, visa-free travel will extend to all cities in Iran and Tajikistan with active flight connections.
Nizomuddin Zohidi highlighted some measures taken between the two countries to facilitate travel and enhance tourism relations. He stated, “We are working on specific actions with Iran to strengthen tourism ties. One effective step recently taken was the visa waiver, which has been in place since August 10th, about 14 days ago.”
He further explained, “In the first phase of this plan, approved during the Thirteenth Government, only passengers flying between Dushanbe and Tehran were included in the visa waiver. However, our goal is to include all travelers between Iran and Tajikistan who fly between the two countries. Our colleagues have emphasized that with the establishment of the Fourth Government, this resolution will be amended, and in the coming days, all flights between the cities of Iran and Tajikistan will be visa-free.”
The Tajik Ambassador in Iran also stated that the purpose of the tourism meeting between the agencies of the two countries is to strengthen tourism ties between Iran and Tajikistan. “As you know, tourism has become a key component of economic development. Countries with tourist attractions use this potential for growth and development. Tourism has played an important role in strengthening the economic standing of many countries.”
Zohidi added, “Tourism is not only about economic and commercial benefits but also has cultural and human significance. When tourists from one country visit another and get to know its attractions, it strengthens cultural activities and friendship between countries and governments. For us, alongside the economic aspects of tourism, its cultural and human dimensions are also important.”
The Tajik Ambassador in Tehran further referred to some actions taken by Tajikistan under the initiative of the President to promote tourism through interaction with neighboring countries, developing infrastructure, and facilitating travel for more countries. He announced the launch of a special tourism police force to ensure the safety of tourists.
He continued, “Tajikistan has historical and cultural attractions. Last year, 1.4 million tourists visited our country, which is a significant number considering our population of 10 million, and this number is increasing.”
The Tajik Ambassador in Iran stated, “Iran holds a special place among the countries with which we want to strengthen tourism. The two countries share many cultural and historical commonalities, making it conducive to developing tourism. We have shared cultural figures, such as Rudaki, whose origins are in Iran but is buried in our country, and Seyyed Ali Hamadani, born in Hamadan, who is buried in Kulob, Tajikistan. These figures serve as a link between the people of the two countries and can greatly contribute to the growth of tourism.”
He added that Tajikistan is a landlocked country with 93% mountain and having some 68 rivers which make the country a good tourism destination.
Meanwhile in the event, General Director of Tourism Marketing Promotion, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran Mohammad Ghasemi pointed to the good political relations between the two countries but insisted that cultural commonalities and language have been the reasons behind this good relation. He added that in tourism language can be a hinder bur Iran and Tajikistan face no language barrier and during common Eids and festivities they can boost tourism.
He reiterated Iran is good at health tourism and welcomes Tajik tourists. He reiterated that Iran and Tajikistan are determined to expand ties in tourism and it is now up to the private sector to boost tourism because the governments have laid the required railways for boosting tourism.
Meanwhile addressing the event, the CEO of Somon Air Mr. Umedjon Saidov said that the airline has one direct flight between Tehran and Dushanbe and announced readiness of his company to increase the flights.
Somon Air is a privately-owned airline based in Tajikistan, operating since 2008. It serves as the first private airline in the country and is headquartered in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
At the end of the event Somon Air and Matin Travel of Tajikistan signed some agreements with Iranian tourism companies like Kados Holding.
Tajikistan is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The towering peaks of the Pamir Mountains, often referred to as the “Roof of the World,” dominate the landscape, offering unparalleled opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, and even high-altitude cycling. The Pamir Highway, one of the highest and most scenic roads in the world, is a bucket-list journey for adventurers, taking travelers through remote villages, stunning valleys, and alongside crystal-clear rivers.
The Tajikistan-Iran tourism roadshow took place about two weeks after the mutual visa waiver was implemented, organized by the Tajik Embassy in Tehran. The event was attended by representatives from private tourism companies of Iran and Tajikistan like Somon Air and Matin Travel, ambassadors from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, representatives from the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), UNESCO’s office in Tehran, and representatives from Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
