ArmInfo. I Iran can become one of main destinations for tourists from Armenia. A well-known Armenian economist Suren Parsyan adheres to a similar point of view.
As the Expert notes on his Facebook page: <I was in Tehran on a one-week visit at the invitation of the Iranian side. This was my second trip to one of the largest countries in the Middle East, with which Armenia has a millennia history and land connection. In Tehran, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the history, culture, tourism, and other branches of the economy of Iran close up. During the visit, I had the honor of participating in the 16th International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition held in Tehran on February 7-10, during which the provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran [(IRI)] individually presented their attractions, hotel facilities, entertainment facilities, cultural heritage, customs, souvenirs, etc.
It is noteworthy that the signs and booklets of some Iranian companies representing Tabriz also contained Armenian information, clearly pointing out and highlighting the Armenian cultural heritage and diaspora of that region.
It should be noted that the Armenian cultural heritage in Iran is always under the care of the state, which further increases Iran's tourism potential and makes it even more interesting. It can become one of the best examples in the world of how it is possible to present and preserve Islamic and Christian cultural heritages side by side. The centers of Iranian culture and tourism are Shiraz, Qazvin, Tabriz, Kerman, Isfahan, Gom, Sanandaj, Khorasan, etc.
International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition is organized on a regular basis. It is an effective platform for finding new partners, sharing experience and evaluating trends in the general tourism sector, to which Armenian tourism companies should also be invited (actively participate). Within the framework of the exhibition, Iran's Minister of Tourism Ezatullah Zarghami met with experts from Armenia at the invitation of the IRI Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts and the 'Iran-Armenian Friendship Association' NGO.
It is noteworthy that 116,430 tourists from the IRI arrived in Armenia in 2022, which is 27.5 percent more than last year. Although the total number of tourists departing from Armenia increased by 2.6 times during 2022, the tourist flows of Armenia to the IRI are very small, which is mainly due to the lack of and sometimes incorrect information about Iran, the passivity of Iranian and Armenian travel companies, and other circumstances.
However, in recent years, Kish (in Hormozgan Province), a small Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, has become a new and active tourist destination for Armenian tourists. It is one of the largest and most famous beach resorts in Iran and the Persian Gulf. The entire territory of the island is a free economic zone where you can buy goods of various importance at very affordable prices.
Cheap airline tickets can contribute to the growth of tourist flows [from Armenia] to Iran. I should mention that Armenian and Iranian airlines have several regular flights a week.
The IRI implements its foreign policy on the principles of dignity, wisdom and expediency, which allows developing and expanding Armenian-Iranian trade and economic ties in all directions.
Armenian-Iranian political-economic relations have not been and cannot be to the detriment of third countries; Armenia and Iran have no alternative for development.
It should be emphasized that currently in this region; Iran is the only country that conducts a policy of stabilization, prevention of new conflicts, which is also in the interests of Armenia," Parsyan stressed.
