TEHRAN – Iran aims to make China a key partner in its tourism sector, and is based on existing trade relations between the two countries, the minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said on Sunday.
Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said in the 21st session of the Strategic Council of Tehran’s province, negotiations are being planned between the two governments to expand tourism cooperation.
“We hope that China will be the first partner in trade and the first partner in tourism,” the IRNA quoted Salehi-Amiri as saying on Sunday. He said that around 160 million Chinese tourists travel abroad every year, and is expected to increase to 200 million by 2030.
He said Iran needs to increase the arrival of foreign tourists to protect 1.6 million jobs in the sector and maintain 22,000 accommodation centres, 6,000 travel agents, 15,000 tour guides and 3,000 eco-lodges.
Salehi-Amiri has identified neighbors in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Persian Gulf, particularly Iraq, as tourism priority markets. He added that other Islamic countries such as Egypt and Indonesia are also important targets.
According to official figures, 6.2 million foreign tourists visited Iran in 1402 (March 2023 and March 2024), and in 1403, 7.39 million people visited. The minister said the government aimed to grow 25% of its arrival this year, but was counted by a 12-day conflict in June and July (June 13th, the war adopted by Israel began in 2025).
Under Iran’s 7th National Development Plan, the country is looking to increase the arrival of foreign tourists to 15 million. Salehi-Amiri added that this requires an annual growth of 19.5%. He also called on the Congressional Research Center to offer suggestions to help revive the industry following the recent conflict.
Salehi-Amiri also highlighted the role of Iranian expatriates, calling it one of the nation’s “biggest assets” for social, cultural and economic development. He said the structure was established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the return of Iranians overseas.
Another speaker at the event, Babak Negadari, director of the Congressional Research Center, told the conference that the agency is connected to more than 17,000 sources, producing one of the world’s largest research after the United States. He said the Centre has signed an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to expand cooperation.
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