The Iranian Minister of Tourism stated that the country aims to increase the number of tourists visiting neighboring Iraq to five million in each direction within a year and called for the development of a detailed and measurable plan to achieve this goal.
Tourism Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri made these statements at a meeting dedicated to expanding tourism ties with Iraq. Officials from the ministry, representatives from the border provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and West Azerbaijan, as well as private sector operators in tourism were present.
According to Salehi-Amiri, currently about 3.6 million Iraqi tourists travel to Iran, and approximately 3.5 million Iranians travel to Iraq. He emphasized that the target should be five million visitors in both directions within the specified period.
However, he stressed that the mass pilgrimage of Arbaeen must be separated from standard tourism statistics.
Arbaeen differs from regular tourism
Salehi-Amiri explained that the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage is fundamentally different from regular tourism because it is primarily a spontaneous and religious movement where standard tourism elements, such as paid services and accommodation, are not always applicable.
He described Arbaeen as an ideological and popular movement, asserting that tourism policy should focus on trips involving planned stays, the use of tourism services, and the creation of cultural and economic value.
The Minister called for expanding bilateral tourism ties beyond religious travel to include medical tourism, leisure, shopping, cultural, and academic destinations.
The Minister noted that many Iraqi guests visiting Iran visit cities like Shiraz and Isfahan, not just religious centers like Mashhad, demonstrating the broader potential of the Iranian tourism market for Iraqi travelers.
He strongly urged the creation of professional and targeted promotional content to showcase lesser-known attractions in both countries, including their natural, historical, cultural, and medical resources.
Transport and medical tourism
Salehi-Amiri stated that prioritizing the facilitation of road and private travel should be a priority, as simplifying border procedures for families and drivers could unlock significant untapped demand.
Furthermore, he demanded an assessment of air capacity between the two states, alongside the development of ground transport, shuttles from Iraqi cities to Iranian tourist sites, and improved border crossings.
Medical tourism was defined as another key area for cooperation. Salehi-Amiri reported that the sector faced difficulties due to the lack of an integrated system connecting patients and travelers from origin to destination.
He added that Iran has been working over the past two years to improve coordination between relevant agencies and is moving towards launching a comprehensive medical tourism system. This proposed system, he said, should enhance transparency, reduce intermediaries, and coordinate services for medical tourists.
He also highlighted the need to resolve issues related to banking and currency, intermediary activities, access to communication and SIM cards, as well as other obstacles faced by foreign medical tourists.
Call for a joint tourism mechanism
The Minister proposed establishing a permanent tourism cooperation mechanism between the two neighboring countries, stating that both sides should develop a common document describing tourism opportunities, challenges, obstacles, and possible solutions.
He suggested establishing a joint high council for tourism, a specialized working group, and a joint office for holding regular meetings, monitoring decisions, and assessing progress.
Salehi-Amiri also called for joint tourism and handicraft exhibitions, noting that tourism can contribute to economic development in border regions.
He concluded that organizing religious, medical, recreational, and other types of tourism in a coordinated system can bring economic benefits while strengthening social and cultural ties between peoples.
Annual Plan
Salehi-Amiri clarified that the five-million target must be transformed into a practical program with a clear schedule, assigned responsibilities, performance indicators, and monitoring mechanisms.
He added: 'We must take seriously the proposal of the Prime Minister of Iraq and determine through clear planning how we can reach the milestone of five million tourists within the next year.' He also noted that the plan must simultaneously assess a range of factors, including regional security, air and ground transport capacity, border infrastructure, medical, religious, and recreational tourism, family and private vehicle travel, length of stay, accommodation and tourism service infrastructure, and the role of the private sector.
