In the interview, Shalbafian noted that his talks with Indian tourism officials in New Delhi were “very fruitful.” He noted that “Iran and India have great similarities throughout their thousands of years of history. We are going to revitalize these connections through tourism and in some ways facilitate mutual tourism cooperation.”
To support this initiative, Iran has removed visa requirements for Indian passport holders. Shalbafian added: “Of course, India has a lot to offer to Iranian tourists. Last year, more than 1.3 million Iranians travelled for tourism purposes. India can benefit from these important markets. On this tour, we plan to showcase Iran’s diverse tourism potential and, with the help of the Indian Ministry of Tourism, connect Iranian tourism businesses.”
Read also: Iran announces visa-free entry for Indian travellers to boost tourism
Roadshows have been held in Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi, and there are plans to expand to other Indian cities. In Iran, Shalbafian said the country is open to hosting a similar promotional event.
“Iran has removed visa requirements for more than 40 countries, allowing more than half of the world’s population to visit them without a visa or easily obtain one upon arrival,” the Iranian minister was quoted as saying by PTI.
Commenting on the meeting with Indian officials, Shalbafian said the two sides agreed to enhance their bilateral tourism relationship as current tourist arrivals do not reflect the full potential. The upcoming MoU will focus on promoting tourism, sharing experiences, developing tourism products and highlighting cultural similarities between the two countries. “The draft MoU is already ready,” he said, and is expected to be signed within six months.
In addition, both countries have talked about increasing direct flights between cities, not limited to capital cities. Currently, there are two direct flights per week from Tehran to Delhi and one from Tehran to Mumbai, all operated by Iranian airlines Mahan Air and Iran Air. Shalbafian said: “There is significant demand for more direct flights to cities like Shiraz and Isfahan, which is crucial to boost tourism.”
Shalbafian also addressed concerns about regional conflicts affecting tourism, saying: “Political issues affect tourism. Last year, more than six million tourists visited Iran, including about 58,000 from India. Despite some media reports, there are no security concerns and Iran is a safe destination with warm hospitality.”
(With contributions from PTI)
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