TEHRAN (Iran News) Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri emphasized, during the 15th Strategic Council meeting of the ministry, the importance of “health tourism” as one of the main axes of the ministry’s development strategies. He said: “Iran’s success in the medical field can serve as a new platform to attract tourists from around the world.”

He added: “Last year, seven million two hundred thousand international tourists visited Iran, of whom 1.2 million utilized health tourism services. Iran, with its outstanding medical infrastructure, introduces unparalleled capacities in this sector to the world.”

Salehi Amiri highlighted the need to develop not only health tourism—aimed at promoting Iran’s historical and natural attractions to international tourists—but also to identify and showcase the country’s untouched potentials in eco-tourism, cultural, and historical sectors. These attractions, alongside UNESCO World Heritage Sites, can turn Iran into a unique and unrivaled destination globally.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts stressed the necessity of revising the ministry’s macro policies to adapt to global conditions and transformations. He acknowledged that, as tourism is a major driver of the global economy, Iran, with its rich history and ancient civilization, must take focused and strategic steps to elevate its position in this industry. This effort requires not only synergy among domestic sectors but also ongoing international engagement.

He also emphasized the importance of expanding policies aimed at socializing the country’s cultural heritage: “Iranian cultural heritage must be recognized as a global identity. In this regard, public participation, along with the presence of elites and experts, plays a vital role. To achieve this, we need a deep review of our cultural and social approaches so that, alongside protecting historical artifacts, active community engagement with them is facilitated.”

He pointed to the need to complete restoration and preservation projects of historical buildings, stating: “Alongside efforts to attract tourists, we must not forget that protecting cultural heritage remains a priority. Restoration and reconstruction projects should be carried out carefully and in accordance with technical standards to preserve Iran’s authenticity and historical values alongside tourism development.”

Salehi Amiri expressed hope that with the synergy of all sectors and stakeholders, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts can achieve its broad objectives and position Iran as a global model in sustainable tourism development and heritage preservation.”Tourism Market”

Referring to the presence of governors in the meeting, he underlined the importance of their participation in the ministry’s strategic council sessions to thoroughly assess local and regional capacities and coordinate policy implementation, programs, and future actions across provinces. He emphasized that each meeting should involve provincial officials, ensuring that the ministry’s goals are pursued comprehensively and tailored to the specific conditions of each region.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri welcomed tourism advocates and those passionate about Iran’s progress at a meeting with Mohammad Reza Aref, Vice President, and private sector investors in the tourism industry. The meeting took place on Saturday, January 12, 2025, in the Fajr Hall of the ministry. He highlighted Mr. Aref’s strong support for the tourism sector and his emphasis on treating tourism as a critical platform for national development.

Salehi Amiri explained that tourism is deeply connected to three key factors: attractiveness, security, and infrastructure. He elaborated on Iran’s cultural heritage and its tourism potential, noting that Iran ranks seventh globally in terms of attractiveness and is regarded as an “archaeological paradise.” Every excavation reveals the country’s rich history and heritage.

The minister pointed out the global media’s campaign to create fear about Iran and present a distorted image of the country. He affirmed that there are serious and strategic programs in place to change global public perception and counter this narrative.

Highlighting the private sector as a cornerstone of tourism infrastructure, Salehi Amiri mentioned 2,700 active projects across the country with a total investment of 570 trillion tomans. He emphasized that facilitating investment and delegating responsibilities to the private sector is the government’s main strategy. The government’s policy focuses on stepping back from executive roles and prioritizing oversight and support.

Salehi Amiri also described diplomatic efforts to attract tourists as part of the government’s policy, noting, “We have engaged in discussions with tourism ministers of many countries, stressing that government relations should not hinder connections between nations.”

He referred to Iran’s 1,400 hotels and 455,000 beds, adding that to achieve the seventh development plan’s goal of attracting 15 million tourists, infrastructure must be transformed. The number of beds must reach one million, along with the need for 550 airplanes and expanded railway networks.

Discussing over fifty individual and group meetings with private investors, Salehi Amiri identified bureaucracy, limited financial aid, and tax issues as the main challenges raised, underscoring the need to address them.

He noted that 550 hotels are under construction, requiring 370 trillion tomans for completion. Following negotiations, 150 trillion tomans in loans will be provided by the Central Bank, and 50 trillion tomans by the National Development Fund. Priority will be given to projects that are more than 70% complete.

In conclusion, Salehi Amiri stressed that embassies must actively promote tourism in target countries.

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