Rahimpour made the statement in an exclusive interview with 'Iran Daily', published Wednesday,listing some challenges facing the tourism industry and elaborating on related solutions.
Excerpts of the interview follow:
Iran Daily: One of the main challenges facing the country’s tourism sector pertains to the aging means of transportation. To what extent do you think modern technologies will help the industry boom?
Rahimpour: Factors such as tourist accommodations, entertainment, transportation and shopping facilities are required for developing tourism industry in any country.
Unfortunately, Iran’s air fleet is old and dilapidated, which adds to the worries of foreign tourists interested in visiting the country.
Officials should take effective measures in this respect. In case, they do not prepare the ground in this regard, the government will not be able to achieve the targets set by its tourism plan.
Recently, you warned about the negative impacts of the fatal crash of Iran-140 airplane on public opinion about Iran’s tourism industry. You said the government should make comprehensive efforts to make Iran’s tourist attractions known internationally.
The Western sanctions targeting Iran’s aircraft industry are unfair and contravene international humanitarian laws.
After these unfortunate accidents, the related officials and organizations should bolster the image of the country’s aircraft industry by implementing an effective crisis management.
The government is required to focus attention on the negative impact of sanctions imposed on Iran’s aviation industry.
What strategies and solutions do you propose after such accidents?
The international community found out that a plane had crashed in Iran due to technical defects. Now shouldn’t we clear the mess after the news is broadcast?
Iranian ambassadors and cultural attaches in other countries are required to do their best to reduce the adverse repercussions of the accident in international arenas.
Earlier, you said removing unnecessary aviation regulations and restrictions is among the most effective strategies to develop tourism industry. Could you please elaborate?
One of the effective techniques in boosting tourism industry is to get rid of unnecessary regulations and restrictions. Foreign airlines will not increase flights to our country, unless they can enter and exit Iran’s air space easily.
To develop the country’s tourism industry, modification of these regulations and removal of these restrictions are inevitable.
You believe addressing the shopping needs of tourists is one of the factors for improving tourism industry. How do you assess the Iranian situation in this regard?
Markets and shopping centers play an effective role in developing tourism industry. Developed countries publicize attractive markets and shopping centers to attract a large number of tourists.
Some tourists travel for the sake of shopping and only go to places that provide them with excellent shopping facilities. Sometimes, tourists spend up to two days in shopping centers. The issue has become very important in most countries.
This is while Iran has not paid due attention to the issue. Iranian shopping centers are filled with Chinese low-quality products that do not appeal to tourists.
What was the main purpose of establishing the Research Institute of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization?
At present, it is impossible to expand tourism industry without being equipped with modern science and applying modern technologies.
Tourism enjoys high capacities and has become one of the world’s three main industries in terms of generating jobs and value-added.
Given the current intense competition in the industry, Iran is in need of professional measures to catch up with the rivals. Therefore, setting up the institute was necessary and should have been established earlier.
Aviation is the safest mode of transportation in the world. In the year ending March 20, 2014, more than 53 percent of world tourism transportations pertained to aviation sector, 5 percent to sea, 40 percent to roads and 2 percent to railroads.
However, one of the most important challenges facing Iran’s tourism industry concerns the country’s aging means of transportation, particularly airplanes. Given the country’s current aviation capacities, the government most probably will not be able to achieve the targets set by the 2025 Vision plan.
The plan calls for acquiring a 1.5-percent share of the international tourism market (at least 20 million tourists per year) and earning $20 billion per annum (2 percent of the global tourism revenues).
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Tehran, Sept 17, IRNA - Employing modern technologies and improving the country's transportation system, especially the air fleet, play a crucial role in developing the tourism industry, said Ali Rahimpour, member of the scientific board of the Research Institute of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.
