TEHRAN – Iran is one of the safest tourist destinations in the world, Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami has said.
Despite the media’s promotion of Iranophobia, Iran can be one of the best options for travelers from around the world, CHTN quoted the minister as saying on Thursday.
The holding of international sports events, such as the 2022 Asian Senior Men’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Bandar Abbas, amid recent unrest, demonstrates Iran’s security and planning capabilities, he added.
His deputy for tourism Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said that a proper budget needs to be allocated to deal with Iranophobia on the budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1402 (starts on March 21, 2023).
It is evident that the unrest of the last few days has adversely affected Iran’s tourism industry, to the point that some countries have issued travel warnings to their nationals to stay away from the country, he explained.
By supporting tourism activists, as ambassadors of the frontline in the fight against Iranophobia, the government can neutralize the issue of Iranophobia, he noted.
Some experts believe Iran is still somehow “unknown” to many potential travelers due to such a “media war.” “Iran’s tourism is grappling with some challenges, on top of those ‘Western media propaganda’ aimed at scaring potential travelers away from the Islamic Republic.”
Long shunned by Western travelers, the Islamic Republic has steadily stepped-up efforts to use tourism, over the past couple of years, to help promote its international image battered by endless opposition mostly from the U.S.
A backpacker’s dream, Iran holds vast potential as a holiday destination with stunning landscapes, numerous World Heritage sites, and above all, its hospitable people.
The country is often portrayed as “one of the safest to travel” by most visitors who experienced it, particularly solo female travelers and families, and the Lonely Planet calls its people the “friendliest in the world.”
The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 26 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
ABU/AM
