Middle East Monitoring Desk Islamabad
Iran’s East Azarbaijan Province is preparing for a recovery in international tourism following the recent war of aggression by the US and Israel, with billions of dollars invested in tourism projects and 36 hotels currently under construction, according to the provincial tourism chief.
Ahmad Hamzehzadeh, head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of East Azarbaijan Province, told IRNA on Saturday that the recent conflict had created a new opportunity to introduce Iran’s cultural identity, history and civilization to international audiences and potentially encourage foreign visitors to experience the country firsthand.
He said foreign tourist arrivals at official accommodation centers in the province fell in the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21), as regional tensions led travelers to postpone trips and tour operators to plan more cautiously.
Despite the downturn, tourism infrastructure development has continued, Hamzehzadeh said, adding that authorities were easing investment procedures, including waiving construction fees for hotels and reducing administrative barriers.
He stressed that accommodation and tourism infrastructure must be developed before demand returns, so the northwestern province is ready when international travel gradually recovers.
