TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage said on Tuesday that the Caspian Sea Coast Governors’ Summit was the beginning of a new phase of regional cooperation, noting that the country has more than one million documented historical sites.
Reza Salehi-Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, spoke at a conference held in Gilan with the participation of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and officials from the Caspian Sea countries.
Foreign Minister Salehi Amiri said Iran represents “one of the most unique civilizations” and has around 43,000 national heritage sites, as well as 29 tangible (or collective) and 26 intangible sites on UNESCO’s list. He said 58 more locations are on Iran’s provisional list.
“This meeting marks the beginning of a new model for cooperation, confidence-building and sustainable development in the Caspian region,” Minister Milas Alia was quoted as saying.
Salehi Amiri said there are long-standing cultural and historical ties between Iran and its northern neighbor. “Our history, culture and traditions are intertwined,” he said.
He said there are thousands of tourist facilities in Iran, including hotels, ecolodges and tourist villages, noting that Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces host half of the domestic tourism, with 3,648 tourist facilities.
The minister said that Iran’s policy under President Massoud Pezeshkian focuses on expanding maritime tourism and strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries.
Citing global tourism data, he said Iran recorded the region’s largest health tourism capacity in 2024, generating about $2 billion in spending by foreign patients. He said Iran aims to attract 15 million tourists and $6 billion in medical tourism revenue within five years.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi-Amiri said the ancient country has 299 registered handicrafts and offers a diverse environment for cultural and nature-based tourism.
He further stated that there are 117 potential areas of cooperation between the Caspian Sea littoral countries, stressing that mutual trust is the key to progress.
Referring to potential investment opportunities in tourism projects, the Minister said the Islamic Republic is ready to receive foreign investment across 2,700 active tourism projects. “The necessary capabilities exist to attract investment and secure adequate returns,” he said.
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