Tehran–The Iraqi roadshow was held on October 6th, with over 50 tourism and investment companies from Basra Province taking part in it.
According to Mirash Aliya Newsletter (CHTN), the meeting, attended by local officials and private activists from both countries, discussed strategies to expand tourism, maritime transport and health tourism between Iran and Iraq.
The programme began with a speech by Ali Abedi, Consul General of the Islamic Republic in Basra. Next, Lieutenant Governor Basra, Basra Tourism Director Hussein Al-Rafiye, and Iraqi Parliamentary lawmaker Basra expressed their opinions.
Also, Hani Rastegalan, head of the Iranian delegation, who will be participating in the event, spoke on behalf of Iran.
Hussein al-Rafie also spoke as president of the Tourism Association and representative of the private sector.
The talks raised various agendas on strengthening tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries, including encouraging the entry of Iraqi families through the land border from Basra to Iran, expanding the shipping routes between Basra, Abadan and Kish Islands, and developing health tourism through joint cooperation between Iran and Iraqi hospitals and tourism agencies.
The speakers highlighted Basra’s extensive capabilities in the tourism sector, spoke about the formation of a new professional approach in the province, and expressed hope that continuing bilateral cooperation will lead to a significant increase in the volume of tourists between Iran and Iraq over the next few years.
Basra Roadshow is part of a series of joint programs aimed at promoting economic, cultural and tourism exchanges between Iran and Iraq’s border regions, and has been welcomed by activists in the sector.
With the efforts of the Iranian Travel Services Office Association and the participation of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Iraq Tourism Roadshow, which will be running until October 9th in three cities: Basra, Baghdad and Karbara, has prioritized the goal of attracting 5 million Iraqi tourists and interacting with 10 million tourists per year between Tehran and Baghdad.
KD