TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said that constructive dialogue with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries has opened “new horizons” of regional cooperation and is a pivotal moment for culture, tourism and economic synergies between member countries.
Minister Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri told reporters on the sidelines of the ECO anniversary ceremony on Monday night that ECO member states were “entering a new era of regional convergence” and that Iran was ready to play a central role in it.
Foreign Minister Salehi Amiri stressed that Tehran’s approach is rooted in “constructive” diplomacy and cooperation, noting that regional countries have shown a clear desire to expand joint initiatives. “President Pezeshkian has repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening regional convergence, which has laid the foundation for a new leap forward in relations with ECO member states.”
The Minister then highlighted recent structured and result-oriented discussions with ECO partners aimed at modernizing and revitalizing shared capacities in cultural heritage and tourism. “Today, more than ever, we have an opportunity to create new possibilities in these areas. We need to review, update and mobilize the capabilities we have in a targeted way,” he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi-Amiri also referred to the recovery of Iran’s tourism industry, saying this is a sign that the industry is “getting back on a stable and reliable path.” He reported that 7,399,000 tourists visited Iran last year (until March 20, 2025) and the ministry is aiming for an increase of at least 5% this year. Although there were “some interruptions” in June and July, October and November delivered strong results. He added that it can now be said with confidence that Iran’s tourism industry is strengthening its position.
He said that “regional cohesion” was a prerequisite for building new cooperation structures within ECO, and said that if the organization strengthened its common narrative and coordinated policymaking, it could become a strong hub in the economic, cultural and tourism sectors. He also stressed that cultural and tourism exchanges should be elevated to a strategic level to support economic development and cultural diplomacy among member states.
“We believe that the ECO region, which shares historical and cultural assets, can transform into a center of sustainable synergy in the world, and Iran is ready to actively and effectively contribute to this process,” Salehi Amiri concluded.
Originally founded in 1964 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye as Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), the organization was renamed the Organization for Economic Cooperation in 1985. Today, ECO covers an area of more than 8 million square kilometers and is home to more than 460 million people, connecting Asia and Europe, Eurasia and the Arab world. One of the oldest intergovernmental organizations in the region, ECO’s core mission is to promote conditions for sustainable economic development and shared prosperity among its member countries.
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