An Iranian official says enhancing cooperation and investments in the tourism sector is a key component of the 25-year partnership agreement which Tehran and Beijing are working to finalize.
Deputy of Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Vali Taymouri said that a major component of the draft agreement — known as the Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — is seeking opportunities for attracting Chinese tourists.
The official added that the agreement would address investments in the construction by China of facilities meant to promote tourism.
Taymouri said that the possibility of Chinese or joint investments in the tourism sector and training tour leaders to further accommodate Chinese travelers has been considered in the pact.
Iran will also be granted the privilege of marketing for and advertising its tourist attractions in China, he said.
The Tehran-Beijing agreement was first announced in a joint statement during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016.
The cooperation roadmap consists of 20 articles, covering Tehran-Beijing ties in “Political,” “Executive Cooperation,” “Human and Cultural,” “Judiciary, Security and Defense,” and “Regional and International” domains, according to the statement released back then.
Prior to the draft agreement, Iran had made efforts to attract tourists from other countries, including China. To that end, Iran lifted visa requirement for Chinese visitors in 2019, allowing them to travel to Iran for 21 days.
Ali Asqar Munesan, head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, estimated that two million Chinese tourists would visit Iran each year after the cancellation of the visa requirement.
The Iranian government also agreed to stop stamping passports of the incoming foreigners to avoid the US retaliation.
In 2018, around 150 million Chinese traveled around the world. Iran has, over the past decade, become one of the major tourist attractions for Chinese nationals.