Tourism

DONYA-E-EGHTESAD: Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) called for private sector cooperation with state-owned entities and participation in planning for "United Nations symposium on Mainstreaming Sector Policies into Integrated National Sustainable Development Planning: Enhancing Sustainable Tourism, Urbanization, Resource Efficiency, Biodiversity and Environmental Protection" which will be held in Iran. As Stated by Masoud Soltanifar, Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization and the government are mainly focused on governance issues and private sector is in a position of authority with regard to tourism industry.
Pointing at global tourism revenues Mr. Soltanifar said that international tourist arrivals reached a record of 1087 million arrivals in 2013 and generated total earnings of more than US$ 1.2 trillion with 8% to 10% direct contribution to GDP and 9% to 12% direct contribution to employment. According to him despite Iran's natural, cultural and historical tourist attractions, the country has a meager share of $5-6 billion of the world's $6500 billion tourism earnings in 2013 which is due to international sanctions, restrictions and years of neglect. "With one percent of world population and one percent of Earth's land, Iran is expected to earn $12 to $13 billion per annum" he said.
Referring to shrinking economy throughout the years of 2012 and 2013 he mentioned tourism as a solution to current economic downturn and emphasized the fact that Iran needs to expand ties with countries across the globe in order to strengthen its tourism industry and boost up GDP.
Mr. Soltanifar further added that reconciliatory approach of the 11th administration has resulted in significant rise in the number of foreign visitors; "We hope that resolving visa issues and electronic visa services, lifting the sanctions and reaching an agreement with 5+1 will help us to overcome the obstacles in the way of attracting more international visitors to the country" he said.
The UN symposium will be hosted by Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in Tehran (14th -16th October 2014) co-organized by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-Tehran Office.