Salehi Amiri: China is Iran’s strategic partner in tourism

Tehran, IRNA – Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri has stressed that developing cultural interactions and attracting a share of China's huge tourism market is one of the main priorities of Iran's tourism policy.

Salehi Amiri made the remarks in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Sun Yeli, on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, Salehi Amiri referred to China’s privileged position in the global tourism arena, and said, “China sends more than 160 million tourists abroad annually and plans to increase this figure to 200 million people.”

During this meeting, he emphasized the need for tourist exchange, cooperation in holding cultural and exhibition events, and expanding communications between tourism sectors of both countries.

The Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, while appreciating the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran in yesterday’s vote of the World Tourism Forum for the country’s seat, emphasized the importance of friendly and strategic relations between Tehran and Beijing.

He said, “We believe that expanding cultural and tourism cooperation can lead to strengthening relations between the two nations and increasing the level of economic interactions.”