The joint meeting of friendship associations and tourism activists on the topic of "Capabilities and Role of Friendship Associations in the Development of International Tourism" was held concurrently with Research Week, hosted by the Abbasabad Cultural and Tourist Area.
According to the public relations of the Abbasabad Cultural and Tourist Area, Seyed Mohammad Hossein Hejazi, CEO of the Abbasabad Cultural and Tourist Area, spoke at this ceremony, which took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 17, at the Art Garden Pavilion. Regarding the role of friendship associations in the field of tourism, he said, "I have been working on the concept of tourism diplomacy for years, and I have concluded that it can be addressed with several Gantt charts. One aspect is that urban and citizen-related issues are one of the parameters for tourism development. If we do not recognize the role of cities and metropolises in urban and geographical spaces, we may see the opposite result in tourism. For example, Rey or Shemiranat have a significant impact on the development of our urban tourism."
Emphasis on the Role of Citizens and Urban Diplomacy in Tourism Development
Seyed Mohammad Hossein Hejazi further highlighted the impact and contribution of cities and citizens in the development of tourism. He added, "The influence of sister city relationships between some cities and countries has significantly impacted international development and tourism growth. One of the topics that has been relatively less addressed is urban diplomacy. Perhaps in a way, urban diplomacy can be considered our cultural ambassadors, and the identity and values of tourism diplomacy have a very effective and positive impact on this field."
Referring to the narrative of urban identity worldwide, he stated, "We have occasions such as Yalda and Nowruz, and alongside them, many other events that have not been nationally registered or addressed. Naturally, these spaces help in the development and diplomacy of tourism."
Infrastructure Challenges in Tourism in Iran and the Need for Attention
The CEO of the Abbasabad Cultural and Tourist Area also addressed the tourism infrastructure, adding, "After 40 years of revolution, tourism infrastructure is still in a negative position. Why hasn't attention been paid to tourism infrastructure? Why hasn't the development of tourism transportation been addressed? Why haven't issues that can symbolize the cultural power of the country been addressed? One of the topics emphasized by the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism is the construction of hotels in the country, which some may criticize, asking how it's possible to build 100 hotels in one year? It may be difficult to construct this number of hotels in the current situation, but we can start the wave. Developing infrastructure is one of the main topics, but we create so many obstacles for its realization that it discourages investors."
Hejazi continued, "I extend a hand of friendship to everyone in this field, especially the friendship associations that connect culture and tourism. The cultural and tourism sectors are always intertwined, and the relationships that friendship associations can foster are vast, with tourism diplomacy being the beginning of many issues."
UNESCO and the Importance of Cultural Heritage Registration for Strengthening Tourism
Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, also spoke at the meeting, saying, "Today's world is rapidly overcoming the blessings of traditional customs and ancestral rituals, and despite the expansion of virtual communication, modern humans are facing the lack of in-person meetings. We know that the absence of such meetings leads to social and cultural disconnections among nations; through meetings, the foundations of dialogue and lasting friendships are achieved. UNESCO, understanding this importance, registers tangible and intangible cultural heritage, figures, memory, and global events to prevent cultural Alzheimer's. This way, different communities can meet their shared heritage up close, become familiar with the diverse rainbow of customs and myths, and plant the beautiful tree of friendship while avoiding sowing the seeds of enmity."
He continued, "The slimmer the circle of government intervention in tourism, the more robust and prosperous tourism becomes. Governments should facilitate and remove obstacles in tourism diplomacy. Having a specialized and independent section in the diplomatic apparatus focused on tourism development is essential to prevent widespread parallel work by other departments. Iran, given its global status in cultural heritage and civilization, can address many challenges facing the country in various fields. It's said that each tourist activates 21 jobs, mitigates the adverse phenomenon of youth migration to metropolises, stimulates businesses and social movement, and simultaneously promotes cultural exchange."
The Role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Supporting Friendship Associations and Urban Diplomacy
Dr. Vasigh, head of the NGOs and Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined the ministry's duties regarding associations, stating, "For several years, the NGOs, friendship associations, and urban diplomacy section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become an independent department. We have three sectors in relations between countries: government, civil society, and friendship associations that promote people-to-people relations, and urban diplomacy that covers relations between Iranian municipalities and various world cities. It is extensive and includes various parts."
He added, "We have gathered today to expand civil relations in this field. In the past eight months, the organization of friendship associations has intensified, and we will see more activities from friendship associations in the future. The duty of friendship associations is to spread Iranian-Islamic culture and civilization among the people and different sectors of other countries and not engage in purely economic and commercial activities; that is the task of chambers of commerce. Over the past three months, about 10 foreign projects have been executed by friendship associations in different countries."
Tourism Statistics and the Role of Friendship Associations in Strengthening International Relations
The head of the NGOs and Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Last year, we had about 8 million foreign tourists and approximately 1.2 million health tourists, and I hope associations can increase these numbers in 2025, as the activities of friendship associations reduce international tensions."
The Role of Friendship Associations in Developing International Tourism
Seyed Ahmad Alavi, a member of the Tehran City Council, also mentioned in this meeting, "I am pleased that all those concerned with tourism occasionally gather. When we took over the tourism committee in the Tehran City Council, we realized how much this topic is seen as decorative, and we struggled to explain that tourism is different from leisure and today, tourism is a sustainable industry worldwide."
He urged friendship associations, "Let's try to convey the experiences of other countries to our officials because some still think tourism is a subset of leisure. Why, when planning laws and regulations, don't we see tourism as an independent industry? Why haven't we been able to prioritize tourism in planning and laws? These issues need more attention."
Seyed Ahmad Alavi continued, "The importance of creating connections between friendship associations and other cultural and tourism institutions is that they can significantly help enhance international relations and showcase Iran's tourism capacities. Many other countries have managed to establish themselves as prominent tourism destinations by relying on tourism diplomacy and international cooperation. Iran, with its rich history and culture, has immense potential to attract tourists, but we have not yet been able to fully utilize this potential."
Challenges in Iran's Tourism Industry and the Need for Greater Collaboration Among Institutions
Continuing, many attendees at the meeting pointed out the existing challenges in Iran's tourism industry. The most significant issues included the lack of coordination among various bodies and insufficient infrastructure to attract foreign tourists. Additionally, some industry activists emphasized the need to focus more on developing tourism infrastructure, especially transportation and recreational services. These obstacles and challenges should be addressed through collaboration among the government, the private sector, and friendship associations to promote tourism as a sustainable industry in Iran.
At the end of the meeting, several suggestions and solutions were discussed. These included increasing international cooperation, providing more support to friendship associations, improving tourism infrastructure, and promoting tourism culture as a sustainable industry. Additionally, there was an emphasis on revisiting tourism laws and policies and creating an environment that facilitates the entry of tourists to Iran.
Ultimately, the meeting highlighted that tourism diplomacy, especially through friendship associations, could play a key role in introducing Iran as a global tourism destination and in expanding cultural, social, and economic relations with other countries. With the support of governments and relevant organizations, this process can be accelerated and contribute to the development of tourism in Iran.
