News Source : https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6306012/%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B0-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C-%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AF
Tourism Cannot Expand with 130 Active Airplanes
The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism announced that despite having 130 active airplanes, tourism development in the country faces numerous challenges. He emphasized that this aging fleet cannot meet the needs of 15 million annual tourists. According to a Mehr News Agency reporter, Salehi Amiri stated in a breakfast meeting with economic activists: “The Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Iran is the engine of development in the country, and in these tough sanction conditions, more than ever, the country’s economy is linked to the efficiency of the Chamber of Commerce.” He added that to improve the tourism situation, we need to leverage more aviation capacity and encourage foreign airlines to operate in Iran.
Iran Charter is considered one of the main obstacles facing the tourism industry in Iran. The Minister of Cultural Heritage stated that besides the airplanes, ground infrastructure also requires improvement and enhancement to accommodate rising tourist numbers. He added: “1430 hotels are registered in the country that are not in tourist-ready conditions. These need to be corrected and existing capacities optimized.”
Salehi Amiri also emphasized that without interaction with neighbors and regional countries, the train of development will not move on its track. He added, “Consensus, coherence, and harmony in the private sector and the three branches of government are necessary, but no clear logic has been defined yet. These issues are very fundamental and constitute obstacles to development in Iran.” The Minister of Cultural Heritage stated that development is not only in steel, petrochemicals, oil, and gas; rather, a developed human creates a developed society. He added that to reach the platform of development, we need a developed human; otherwise, society will not develop.
Challenges of the Active Airline Fleet and Its Impact on Tourism
Despite having 130 active aircraft, the high average age of this fleet cannot meet the needs of 15 million annual tourists. This issue leads to a decline in airline service quality and drives tourists to opt for services of other countries.
Infrastructure Deficiencies and Their Impact on Tourist Experience
In addition to airline fleet issues, the country’s ground infrastructure also requires improvement and upgrades to accommodate large numbers of tourists. The lack of sufficient facilities in hotels and tourist areas results in a negative experience for tourists and poses a serious barrier to the development of the tourism industry.
Economic Dependence on Private Sector Amid Sanctions
In the tough sanction conditions, the country’s economy is heavily reliant on the efficiency of the private sector. This dependency highlights the need for more support and development of the private sector for economic growth and tourism development.
Need to Encourage Foreign Airlines to Operate in Iran
To improve the airline fleet situation and increase tourist accommodation capacity, attracting and encouraging foreign airlines to operate in Iran is crucial. The presence of these companies can enhance the diversity of airline services and create competition beneficial to tourists.
The Importance of Cohesion and Unity Among Different Sectors for Tourism Development
Without interaction and unity between the private sector and the three forces, tourism development in Iran will face challenges. Cohesion in policies and developmental programs can provide a better pathway for advancing this industry.
Impact of Airline Fleet’s Average Age on Service Quality
An airline fleet with a high average age typically faces more technical issues, leading to a decrease in the quality of services offered to tourists. This issue necessitates the modernization and updating of the airline fleet.
The Importance of Adequate Financial Resources for Tourism Infrastructure Development
The development of tourism infrastructure requires sufficient financial resources and efficient management. Without appropriate financing, developmental projects cannot be well executed, and the country’s tourism may stagnate.
Impact of Weakness in Tourism Infrastructure on Attracting Foreign Tourists
The weakness in tourism infrastructure, including inefficient hotels and insufficient facilities, can negatively affect Iran’s attractiveness to foreign tourists. Improving this infrastructure is essential to gaining the trust and satisfaction of tourists.
Need to Change Tourism Development Strategies to Address Challenges
In light of the challenges in the tourism industry, there is a need to change strategies and adopt innovative approaches in developing this field. These changes could include improving services, increasing accommodation capacities, and attracting foreign investments.
FAQ
- What issues does the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism face with the current 130 aircraft?
- The Minister of Cultural Heritage stated that it is not possible to cater to 15 million tourists with 130 aircraft of high average age.
- What role does Iran’s Chamber of Commerce play in the country’s economy?
- The Minister of Cultural Heritage mentioned that Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture is the engine of development in the country and is linked to the economy’s efficiency amid tough sanctions.
- What change did Minister Salehi Amiri propose in the government’s approach?
- Salehi Amiri proposed that the government should move away from administration to focus on support and supervision to remain agile and avoid delving into developmental deviations.
- How should the perception of government and the private sector change?
- The minister emphasized the need for a clearer statement of the relationship between government and the private sector, where the government should step back from administration and focus on support and supervision.
- What problems did Salehi Amiri highlight in the tourism sector?
- He pointed out weaknesses in infrastructure, a shortage of suitable aircraft, an inadequate ground fleet, and infrastructure issues within the health tourism sector as the main problems.
- What is the goal of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism by the end of the Seventh Plan?
- The goal is to attract 15 million tourists and operate 1900 hotels in the country.
- How did Minister Salehi Amiri highlight the importance of human resources in development?
- He stated that development isn’t just about large industries; it’s about developed individuals creating a developed community, and we need informed individuals to reach a development platform.
- What did Minister Salehi Amiri say about cultural heritage?
- He said that cultural heritage builds identity, showcases the nation’s history to the world, and with more than 40,000 global sites registered, it places Iran among the top 10 countries worldwide.
- What collaborations did the Ministry of Cultural Heritage announce in the field of tourism?
- The ministry is ready to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Iran Chamber to create a clear roadmap for operational discussions in tourism.
- What strategies did Minister Salehi Amiri propose for increasing foreign tourism?
- He pointed to infrastructure improvement, leveraging more aviation capacities, cooperating with foreign airlines, and strengthening ties with neighboring countries and target areas such as Southeast Asia.
- What did the Minister of Cultural Heritage say about health tourism?
- He announced that currently, there are 1.2 million tourists in the health tourism sector, and this should increase to 2 million, requiring specific infrastructure.
- What did Minister Salehi Amiri say about the role of misleading advertisements in creating Iranophobia?
- He stated that enemy advertisements wrongly create Iranophobia, but surveys show that 85% of foreign tourists consider Iran a safe, attractive, and beautiful country.
- What measure did the Ministry of Cultural Heritage propose to facilitate foreign tourism?
- The minister announced that it is crucial to adjust Iran’s financial system so foreign tourists can easily spend their funds after conversion to Rials.
- What did Minister Salehi Amiri say about using private sector capacity in tourism?
- He mentioned the need to utilize private sector service capacities to develop the tourism industry.
- What did the Minister of Cultural Heritage say about handicraft exports?
- He emphasized that the main problem with handicrafts is marketing, and holding specialized exhibitions could be beneficial. He also pointed to customs and currency issues in export paths and expressed a need for provincial chamber assistance.
- What did Minister Salehi Amiri say about carpet exports?
- He announced that carpet exports face basic problems and that serious efforts are needed to solve ten major issues. He noted the beginning of negotiations with the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade to resolve this structurally.
- How can someone contact Iran Charter?
- To contact Iran Charter, you can call 02191091190 or send an email to info@irancharter.ir.