TEHRAN – Conference held between Iranian cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts on Saturday, Seiyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Turkish ambassador of the Islamic Republic, Hikabi Killanzik, highlighted the strengthening of cultural ties and expansion of cooperation between the tourism and the heritage sector.
Salehi-Amiri highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between the two countries, noting that miscellaneous relations with Iran have expanded beyond diplomacy and are fixed for centuries of shared heritage dating back to the Ottoman period.
The minister said, referring to the heritage of Rumi (a famous Persian poet of the 13th century known in Iran as Morana), that the mystical figure belongs to the cultural heritage of mankind and could serve as a symbol of Iran-Turkey’s cultural cooperation and civilised dialogue.
Salehi-Amiri then mentioned the strong interest among Iranians in their travels to Turkey, resulting from the sharing of cultural values as well as tourism infrastructure. He added that many Alevi citizens of Turkey would like to visit Iranian religious and cultural sites, including Haj Bektash Veli of Neighbors (13th century Islamic scholar and mystic).
The minister, who described Iran as a country rich in tourism potential, said it boasts 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, over 43,000 nationally registered sites, and thousands of cultural and historical attractions. He also pointed to the country’s important craft industry, claiming that annual exports could be $500 million (part of which was transported in personal packages) but could become a key partner in expanding the sector’s global reach.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian minister extended the invitation to potential Turkish investors to contribute to Iran’s tourism infrastructure, noting that Iran plans to build 100 new hotels each year. He proposed drafting a comprehensive bilateral agreement focused on cultural, tourism and economic cooperation with the long-term outlook.
Ambassador Killranzik repeated his feelings on his part, calling for a miscellaneous relationship with Iran, deeper than a typical neighbor relationship. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural and social relations to create synergy in other regions, and called for target promotion of Iranian tourist destinations within Turkey.
Iranian officials also participated in the meeting, including Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Ali Dharabi. Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey, Tourism Bureau. Maryam Jalali-Dehkordi, Deputy Crafts Bureau. Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, head of the provincial investment centre.
Darabi proposed a Joint Culture Week and museum exhibition between the two countries, while Mohseni-Bandpey advocated a Technical Committee to advance regional collaborations such as halal food tourism and pilgrimage.
Jalali-Dehkordi announced an agreement with the mayor of Istanbul and announced that it would establish a dedicated venue to showcase Iranian handicrafts. This is an initiative that is considered key to expanding international markets.
Sharbafian highlighted the interest from the Turkish private sector in entering the Iranian tourism market, saying the ministry is developing advice and facilitation packages to attract Turkish investors to Iranian tourism projects.
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