Iran creates tourism ministry amid plans for boom in sector
The Iranian government has created a new ministry for tourism amid plans for increased income from the sector at the time of US sanctions.
Reports in the media on Tuesday suggested that the Guardian Council, a body which vets legislation by the Iranian parliament, had approved a bill to set up the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry in three months time.
The bill submitted to the parliament by the administration of President Hassan Rouhani had gained the approval of 143 out of 158 lawmakers in a session in the chamber last month .
The bill stipulates that the current Iranian agency on tourism, known as ICHTO, would be elevated to the position of a ministry without any expansions expected in the size and personnel of the subsidiary departments.
The creation of the ministry brings to 19 the total number of portfolios held by ministers in the Iranian Cabinet.
Deputy president and current ICHTO chief Ali Asqar Mounessan is a candidate to become Iran’s first tourism minister.
The legislation comes as successive Iranian governments have tried to downsize the administrative system by merging ministries or removing redundant bureaucratic positions.
However, it comes at a time when Iran expects significantly higher revenues from the tourism sector to compensate for the income lost in the oil industry due to the American sanctions
The government has already declared its ambitions to exponentially increase the number of tourist arrivals in Iran as it seeks access to new foreign currency resources.
Visa waivers have been issued for nationals of countries like China while foreign pilgrims can easily travel to Iran to visit holy shrines.
Authorities said in June that Iran expects more than two million annual arrivals only from China now that visa requirements are lifted.
The government has also dismantled requirements for stamping of passports in the Iranian airports to ensure foreign tourists that they would not encounter problems in future due to the regime of US sanctions.
Iran VP opens privately-owned $150 mln hotel in north Iran
US announces new sanctions targeting Iran’s drone program
Iran, Turkmenistan agree to launch passenger train services
Netanyahu says Qatar 'not an enemy state'
UN rights body demands Israel 'prevent genocide' in Gaza
VIDEO | Unceasing genocide vs. Palestinians
VIDEO | Iran's response to Trump's threat
US orders social media screening for student visa applicants to bar those critical of Israel
VIDEO | Iran marks anniversary of Israeli attack on embassy in Damascus
Hamas slams Ben-Gvir’s storming of al-Aqsa Mosque as ‘dangerous escalation’
Moving against global tide, Israel eliminates all tariffs on US goods
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
