Riyadh: Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri held separate meetings on Sunday with senior officials from several countries, including Indonesia, China, India, Iraq, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in tourism.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the meetings took place on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Riyadh. Salehi-Amiri focused on strengthening tourism diplomacy, cultural ties, and scientific and people-to-people exchanges during these discussions.

Highlighting Iran’s unique cultural, civilizational, and natural heritage, Salehi-Amiri emphasized Iran’s readiness to take steps towards expanding cooperation in tourism, cultural heritage, handicrafts, and research with friendly and partner countries. He noted that the level of tourist exchange between Iran and many regional countries remains below expectations.

Salehi-Amiri stated that the world should better know the real, beautiful, and cultural image of Iran. He expressed Iran’s readiness to host tourists from various countries and to facilitate the dispatch of Iranian tour operators and tourism professionals abroad.