Iran marks World Tourism Day

Iran has marked the World Tourism Day during a ceremony held by the country’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) in Tehran.

Government authorities, tourism experts and hoteliers gathered on the first day of Iran’s Tourism Week to unveil a memorial stamp and discuss the country’s tourism industry.

This year, the World Tourism Day is held on the theme of tourism and biodiversity aiming at raising global awareness towards preserving the environment as the main asset of the world tourism industry.

Despite its vast tourist attractions, Iran’s tourism industry is facing some problems which is said to have been caused by the interaction between the government and the private sector.

While travel agents and hoteliers expect more help from the government, officials say the private sector must stand on its own feet.

“The government can only give its share of support to the tourism sector which is not a lot and it is up to the private sector to support itself,” ICHTO head, Hamid Baqaei said during the ceremony.

“Figures show that this year travel agencies have paid 50 million dollars to just three advertising companies encouraging Iranians to go abroad instead of working on destinations inside Iran,” he added.

According to Iran’s 20 year vision, the country must increase its capacities to host an annual number of 20 million tourists by 2025.

Iran stands fifth in terms of tourist attractions and holds the second position in biodiversity. Despite all those huge potentials the country’s share of the global tourism industry is less than one percent.

Iran is considered as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. The four-season climate, cultural diversity and matchless historical sites and handicrafts are only part of what it can offer.

Figures, however, show no more than two million when it comes to tourists.

“We have to offer new and proper travel packages to tourists,” Secretary of Iran’s Hotel Owners’ Society Khosrow Iranpour told Press TV’s correspondent.

“Our banks only finance industries that are based on supplies like when someone wants to build something, but tourism is an industry based on demand,” he added.

“Such problems persuade travel agencies to advertise on taking people out rather than bringing people into the country.”

While tourism has become a profitable business for more than 50 countries, experts believe Iran has enough potential to turn its low-profit tourism sector to a lucrative source of income that could even replace oil revenues.