Tehran – Iran’s Tourism Minister is calling for a new approach to regional cooperation among member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and emphasizes deeper people-to-people bonds and cultural exchanges as the driving force behind the region’s sustainable tourism development.
At the opening of the Regional Tourism Market Symposium held on Kish Island from May 13-15, Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri welcomed representatives including the Environment Director-General, Ambassadors, Scholars and Tourism Bureaus of the 10 member countries of the organization. He emphasized the importance of promoting stronger connections among the region’s 5 billion population through cultural and tourism collaborations.
“While intergovernmental relations are positive, the true engine of integration is to strengthen inter-national ties by sharing cultural and tourism values,” Salehi-Amiri said.
He noted that these assets provide powerful tools to enhance local unity, and pointed out the vast shared heritage of the region, from the charm of handicrafts and nature to the roots of a common civilization. The minister proposed an expanded cultural dialogue among intellectuals, saying Iran is ready to host a forum that promotes mutual understanding among eco-members.
Salehi-Amiri highlighted Iran’s recent visa exemption to citizens from 33 countries in its push to increase tourism flow, urging ECO states to consider similar policies. He emphasized that relaxing travel restrictions would significantly increase tourism exchanges, and called on the Environment Secretariat and related authorities to promote the liberalization of visas within the block.
With attention on the host venue, Salehiamiri called Quiche Island a future hub for regional tourism, focusing on 57 active hotels and 52 infrastructure under construction. He predicted that within five years the island will account for 10% of Iran’s total tourism infrastructure.
Eco is an intergovernmental regional organization that besieges countries in Europe, the Caucasus, Central and Western Asia, and South Asia, and includes 8 million square kilometres that link Russia with more than 460 million inhabitants and the Persian Gulf and Europe. According to the organization, its overall objective is to achieve sustainable economic development across member states and regions.
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