TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri proposed on Sunday the creation of a global tourism innovation network based on artificial intelligence at the 26th United Nations Tourism Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Salehi Amiri said the proposed network would serve as a platform for member states to exchange data, experience and knowledge in pursuit of sustainable tourism development.
In his speech, the Iranian minister expressed his gratitude to the Saudi government for hosting the event and praised the constructive role of regional countries in strengthening tourism cooperation.
He also thanked outgoing United Nations Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili for his eight years of service and congratulated Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais on his election as the organization’s new head, calling the election an important development for the region. He added that Iran supports Iranian leadership and stands ready for constructive cooperation towards the development of global tourism.
Foreign Minister Salehi-Amiri emphasized Iran’s historical and cultural role in promoting human values and cited the Cyrus Cylinder, introduced at the Samarkand summit as an eternal symbol of humanity and mutual respect, as a guide for drafting a global code of ethics for tourism.
Emphasizing the human-centric role of technology in tourism, the minister said that Iran has made significant progress in introducing artificial intelligence into the (tourism) sector. “We don’t see AI as a substitute, but as a partner for human intelligence and creativity,” he said, citing dozens of knowledge-based companies and hundreds of startups working on smart booking, travel design, tourist behavior analysis, and content creation.
Salehi Amiri said Iran’s proposal aims to ensure that artificial intelligence serves humanity rather than governing it.
“We believe that the spirit of tourism is human,” the minister added.
According to data released by Iran’s Ministry of Tourism, the Islamic Republic generated approximately $7.4 billion from foreign tourists in the past Persian calendar year (ended March 2025), with more than 7 million international tourists arriving in the country. Based on figures provided by the Iranian Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA), 7.399 million foreign tourists entered Iran last year. According to Salehi Amiri, tourist spending during this period brought in $7.4 billion in revenue.
The majority of foreign tourists visiting Iran come from neighboring countries, with Iraq being the largest source of tourism.
The Islamic Republic expects to benefit from its numerous tourist attractions, including bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, baths, madrassas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, 29 of which are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
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