Minister of Cultural Heritage: National Consensus Is Key to Moving Beyond Distractions and Advancing Tourism Development
Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, emphasized the importance of national consensus during a meeting with investors and tourism stakeholders in the city of Nur on Friday, stating that such unity is essential for overcoming challenges and fostering national development.
According to Good News Agency He explained that, from the government’s perspective, national consensus means a commitment to virtue, efficiency, and standing alongside the people. “Anyone indifferent to the public’s pain is acting against the spirit of unity,” he added, calling on all officials to work toward resolving people’s problems—especially those affecting the tourism sector.
Salehi Amiri announced the formation of special committees in Tehran to address tourism-related issues and facilitate practical solutions. He also stressed that the path for welcoming large numbers of international tourists to Iran must be cleared, and that waiting passively for domestic tourists is not a viable strategy.
Tourism diplomacy, he noted, is a central component of the ministry’s current approach. “In the first phase, our target countries include the Caspian Sea region, where we have already held productive meetings with tourism ministers,” he said.
Highlighting the regional potential, Salehi Amiri pointed to the massive international tourism market—particularly in China, which sends over 160 million tourists abroad annually. “Iran deserves a much larger share of this market,” he said.
One of the ministry’s key strategies, he added, is to ensure that each region’s unique attractions are accurately and effectively introduced to tourists, enabling local cultural and natural assets to fuel tourism growth.
Salehi Amiri visited Mazandaran Province for a two-day trip aimed at directly assessing tourism opportunities and challenges in the western part of the province. This marked his second visit to the region within two months.
His itinerary included visits to the Rudbarak tourist area in Kelardasht, participation in a memorial ceremony for unknown martyrs, inspection of tourism and coastal facilities in Namakabrood, and a meeting with local tourism investors. He also unveiled a selected handicraft product during a local festival.
On the second day, the minister visited Imam Khomeini Maritime Science and Technology University in Nowshahr and toured several major tourism projects, including the under-construction five-star Araz Hotel, the Abpari tourist area in Royan, the Dasht-e Noor tourism complex in Nur, and the Maya handicrafts market. He also reviewed the ongoing construction of the Mahmoudabad coastal green road and inaugurated phase two of the Simorgh recreational center.
This visit followed his earlier trip to Mazandaran on September 14, which included participation in the 90th anniversary of the Tonekabon municipality, groundbreaking of a nature bridge and urban park, and a visit to the 33-hectare garden in Ramsar.
Reporter: Fatemeh Mohagheghi
