Enhancing tourism major component of draft Iran-China deal: Iranian official
An Iranian official says enhancing cooperation and investments in the tourism sector constitutes a key component of a 25-year partnership agreement under discussion between Iran and China.
Deputy of Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Vali Taymouri said Monday that a major component of the draft agreement — known as the Sino-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — is seeking avenues of “expert cooperation” within the tourism sector and attracting Chinese tourists.
He said the draft agreement, which Tehran and Beijing are working to finalize, takes into account the views of experts at Iran’s tourism ministry.
The official added that the agreement would address investments in the construction by China of facilities meant to promote tourism.
Taymouri said that the possibility of Chinese or joint investments in the tourism sector and training tour leaders to further accommodate Chinese travelers has been considered in the pact.
Iran will also be granted the privilege of marketing for and advertising its tourist attractions in China, he said.
The Tehran-Beijing agreement was first was announced in a joint statement during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016.
The cooperation roadmap consists of 20 articles, covering Tehran-Beijing ties in “Political,” “Executive Cooperation,” “Human and Cultural,” “Judiciary, Security and Defense,” and “Regional and International” domains, according to the statement released back then.
Prior to the draft agreement, Iran had made efforts to attract tourists from other countries, including China. To that end, Iran lifted visa requirement for Chinese visitors, allowing them to travel to Iran for 21 days.
Iranian official also traveled to China last year with the purpose of expanding the tourism industries of both countries.
In 2018, around 150 million Chinese traveled around the world. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has predicted that due to economic growth and annual income increase, the number of Chinese travellng abroad will reach up to 178 million by the end of 2020 with an estimated travel cost of 1.2 trillion yuans.
Iran has, over the past decade, become one of the major tourist attractions for Chinese nationals.
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