Tehran – Iranian Tourism Minister Seyedlezasalehiamyi has announced plans to promote tourism investment along the northern and southern coastlines, highlighting the untapped possibilities of the Persian Gulf, the Oman Sea and the Caspian Sea.
At a gathering of senior naval officials on Saturday, Salehi-Amiri highlighted the importance of a maritime-based economy and the role of coastal tourism in Iran’s economic growth. He noted that investment proposals in these regions are under review.
“There are great opportunities for tourism development along the northern and southern coasts of the country. The cooperation of the military in making parts of the coast available for tourism activities is an important step,” he said.
The minister also outlined the goal of attracting 15 million international tourists by the end of the 7th National Development Plan, from around 7 million visitors recorded last year. He further emphasized the need to expand the country’s hospitality infrastructure, including doubling the current capacity of 1,843 accommodation centres and 455,000 beds.
Comparing Iran’s tourism potential with competitors in regions such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the minister highlighted the country’s rich cultural and historical assets. “With over a million historic and cultural heritage, Iran is one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. Historical locations such as Jiroft, Susa, Shushtar and Firouzabad have great potential for industrial growth,” he added.
The Minister recognized infrastructure flaws as a major challenge for Iran’s tourism sector and called for increased domestic and foreign investment, banking support and legal promotions to address these gaps. He also pointed to an increase in investment by Caspian Sea countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Tajikistan in maritime tourism, highlighting that Iran has not yet fully utilized the possibilities of coastal tourism.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in expanding Iran’s tourism industry, highlighting the role of the international North-South Transport Corridor and its connections between Central Asia and the Caucasus. He concluded by fostering the use of diplomatic channels, strengthening global tourism ties and attracting foreign investment to further strengthen the sector.
Last November, his former Deputy Tourism Minister Ali Asgal Sharbafian will hold a meeting with several experts and private investors to discuss strategies to advance marital tourism within the framework of the development plan. An important highlight of the discussion was its emphasis on developing ocean tourism around Abu Musa’s strategically important Iranian islands. This initiative is seen as a direct response to unfounded territorial claims by the United Arab Emirates.
morning