Tehran – Iran has been re-elected as a member of the UN Tourism Executive Council, the leading international decision-making body in the field of tourism.
The election took place at the 60th meeting of the United Nations Regional Commission on Tourism in Asia and the Pacific. This was attended by Moseni Bandopey and Islem Shohaei, Director of Marketing and Tourism Development, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism, served as chair of a conference held in Jakarta, Indonesia from April 15th to 16th.
Speaking to the Tehran Times on Tuesday, Shohai confirmed that Iran’s request to renew its membership in the Executive Council has been formally approved, highlighting the importance of Iran’s continued presence in the Council.
The Deputy Tourism Minister said, along with India, the country will benefit from the membership for the next four years as a representative of South Asia.
“This new opportunity, as a result of extensive efforts and negotiations, will allow Iran to continue to actively engage in shaping a global tourism strategy,” he said. “We will also begin access to a variety of benefits that can support the growth and modernization of Iran’s tourism industry.”
Officials also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the importance of timely access to global tourism data, claiming that tourism development is deeply linked to positive diplomatic relations and global engagement.
UN Tourism, known as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is one of the world’s leading tourism institutions. Iran’s active role in the Executive Council over the past decade has allowed the country to receive sustained support and access to global expertise.
One of the key benefits of this membership is access to expert consultants in the development and update of Iran’s national tourism strategy, implementation of modern tourism statistics models such as Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs), participation in specialized training programs, continued involvement in UN’s Silk Road project, and official recognition of Iran’s potential as a global tourism destination.
Furthermore, Iran has secured approval to work with UN tourism to establish a centre for tourism development, promotion and applied research. This is an initiative aimed at further strengthening relations between Iran and the international tourism community.
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