TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Crafts, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, on Tuesday called for a transformative approach to tourism as a driver of sustainable peace and renewal of Islamic civilizations at the 5th D-8 senior officials meeting on tourism held in Cairo.
In front of high-level representatives of D-8 member states, Salehi-Amiri has published a comprehensive strategic roadmap aimed at redefining tourism as a central pillar of civilized diplomacy, sustainable development and cultural capital generation.
He positioned Iran as a leader in smart governance, cultural diplomacy and civilization-building investment in the Islamic world.
Emphasizing the geopolitical dynamics of the shift and the emergence of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, the minister emphasized the need for a new global order rooted in Islamic rationality, Eastern wisdom and technological innovation.
“The future world is a battlefield of concepts, stories and civilization,” he says, adding that countries that utilize soft power tools like tourism are better positioned to assert identity, strengthen unity and present authentic images to the global community.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi Amiri outlined the Iranian government’s tourism policy, saying it has shifted from traditional to development-oriented, technology-driven, economically strategic policies.
He then highlighted the unique tangible and intangible heritage assets of Iran, highlighting the country’s progress to become a regional hub for health tourism, the revival of historic routes, smart infrastructure and international investment. Key initiatives include the establishment of a tourism investment centre and the launch of the country’s first artificial intelligence unit specialized in the tourism sector.
Salehi-Amiri warned against the sacrificing cultural identity, local credibility and fairness in the name of development in search of ethical, fairness and human-centered governance over new technologies like AI. “Digital disparities should not lead to cultural marginalization or erasure of decentralized heritage,” he said.
As part of his remarks, the Iranian minister has introduced a strategic roadmap to strengthen social cooperation and promote economic diplomacy among D-8 members. He offered to hold the first edition in Tehran in February 2026, calling for the annual organization of the D-8 International Tourism and Investment Expo.
He also proposed the establishment of a joint tourism investment fund to encourage mutual removal of visa requirements between member states to promote travel within the Islamic world and to fund large-scale regional projects.
Among other practical steps, Salehi-Amiri has created a comprehensive investment opportunity database, launched a multinational tour package, launched a multinational tour package to lengthen visitor stays, established a regional tourism office, proposed expanding direct and multi-de station flight routes between member countries, and provided specialized training programs in digital marketing, destination management, and smart heritage protection.
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