Iran's Tourism Minister Connects with Chinese and Iraqi Officials at UN General Assembly: A New Era for Global Tourism Collaboration

During the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a significant meeting took place that could reshape tourism cooperation between Iran and China, as well as further strengthen ties with Iraq. Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri met with China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, and Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, to discuss strategies for enhancing tourism and cultural exchanges.

Salehi-Amiri emphasized the importance of fostering a new phase of tourism cooperation, stating that attracting a share of China’s extensive tourism market is a key priority for Iran. According to IRNA, he remarked:

“If Iran can attract even one percent of this capacity, more than two million Chinese tourists could travel to Iran annually — a strategic number that could bring about a major transformation in the country’s tourism industry.”

During the discussions, both parties highlighted the need to:

Promote tourism and cultural ties
Strengthen economic relations between Tehran and Beijing
Design joint plans to increase reciprocal tourist volumes
Utilize China’s vast tourism market effectively

Salehi-Amiri underscored that there are no existing challenges between Iran and China, citing a mutual trust that fosters sustainable cultural and tourism cooperation. He stated:

“We consider China a strategic partner in the global tourism industry and believe that cooperation between the two countries can serve as a successful model for Asian collaboration in the field of tourism.”

In a reciprocal gesture, Sun Yeli expressed gratitude for Iran’s support during a recent vote at the World Tourism Forum, which resulted in a favorable outcome for China. He noted:

“Expanding cultural and tourism cooperation can strengthen relations between the two nations and enhance economic interactions.”

As a result of their discussions, the two ministers agreed on numerous joint initiatives, including:

Developing tourist exchange programs
Participating in each other’s cultural and exhibition events
Leveraging China’s tourism market to promote Iranian attractions
Enhancing technical and economic cooperation in the tourism sector

In addition to fostering ties with China, Salehi-Amiri also met with Iraq’s Minister of Culture to discuss expanding tourism cooperation. Their conversation focused on enhancing pilgrimage infrastructure and promoting mutual travel, with plans to establish a specialized committee to develop pilgrimage and sightseeing tourism.

Salehi-Amiri highlighted the significance of the Arbaeen ritual, a major religious event that commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS). He suggested:

“This ritual is a symbol of love, faith, and unity among Muslim nations, especially the peoples of Iran and Iraq, and deserves to be registered as an element of intangible cultural heritage of humanity on the UNESCO list.”

He further appreciated the hospitality shown by the Iraqi people towards Iranian pilgrims during Arbaeen, describing their treatment as a manifestation of the strong bond between the two nations. Salehi-Amiri remarked:

“Iraq is one of Iran’s most important tourism partners. Last year, more than 3.5 million Iranian pilgrims traveled to Iraq, and roughly the same number of Iraqi pilgrims visited Iran. Our goal is to increase this number to five million reciprocal tourists next year.”

To achieve these ambitious goals, he stressed the need for:

Creating incentives for travel
Improving transportation and accommodation facilities
Reducing travel costs through government and trade association initiatives

Salehi-Amiri also acknowledged the necessity of developing mixed tourism, where Iraqi pilgrims can explore Iran’s diverse attractions, while Iranian pilgrims benefit from Iraq’s historical and cultural landmarks.

He welcomed the establishment of a joint technical committee focused on tourism, which aims to tackle existing obstacles, enhance infrastructure, and improve cooperation in managing pilgrim trips.

In response, Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Cultural Heritage expressed willingness to collaborate on cultural and tourism initiatives. He stated:

“Arbaeen is a shared heritage and a source of pride for both nations, and we are ready to work with Iran toward its global registration.”

The ministers outlined a set of collaborative actions, including:

Pursuing global registration of the Arbaeen Hussaini ritual on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Aiming to increase mutual tourism between Iran and Iraq to five million visitors annually
Forming a joint technical tourism committee to remove barriers
Developing a comprehensive model for pilgrimage and sightseeing tourism

Salehi-Amiri described these agreements as vital for enhancing cultural and people-to-people diplomacy between the two nations, emphasizing that:

“Iran and Iraq are partners and companions in culture, faith, and spiritual heritage.”

This meeting marks a pivotal moment for tourism collaboration in the region, with the potential to redefine cultural and economic ties between Iran, China, and Iraq.