Dato Wan Azninizam Yusri, the Chargé d'Affaires and head of the Malaysian embassy delegation in Iran, announced the country's efforts to develop tourism and increase the arrival of Iranian tourists at the event introducing Malaysian tourism held last night in Tehran. He mentioned Malaysia's plans for the years 2026 and 2027, stating: "These years have been introduced as the years of visiting Malaysia, and a large festival will be held to attract tourists."
Establishing Direct Flights and Its Importance
Yusri stated that establishing direct flights from Tehran to Malaysia increases the tourism market potential between the two countries. He noted that last year, 20,000 Iranians traveled to Malaysia, emphasizing that this figure had reached about 50,000 before the outbreak of COVID-19. He added: "Now that the direct flight is established, we hope the number of Iranian tourists to Malaysia will increase."
He also pointed out the negative impacts of the lack of direct flights, stating: "The absence of direct flights had caused Iranian travelers to travel to neighboring countries. Now, with the establishment of this flight, we hope this trend will change."
Challenges and Solutions
Dato Wan Azninizam Yusri further referred to the challenges faced by Iranian tourists traveling to Malaysia, stating: "Rising prices and inflation in Iran and other countries, as well as regional developments, have been among the factors reducing travel." He mentioned Malaysia's plans to expand tourism activities in various cities in Iran, announcing collaboration with travel agencies to develop tourism in Shiraz, Qom, and Isfahan.
He also highlighted the attractions of Iran for Malaysian tourists, stating that the cultural and religious commonalities between the two countries could be effective in attracting tourists. He noted: "Malaysians are interested in Iran's civilization, and traveling to Isfahan is appealing to them."
In conclusion, Dato Wan Azninizam Yusri emphasized the importance of cultural and tourism relations between the two countries, stating: "To promote a country's culture, we need its tourism. By implementing more cultural programs in Iran, the people of Malaysia will become familiar with Iranian culture."
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