Mohammad Hossein Yazdani, President of the Association of Professional Tour Guides, believes that before any redefinition in the field of tourism, it must be clearly established what position this industry holds in the country and a precise definition should be provided.
Challenges of Tourism in Iran
Yazdani continues: "We have not yet established tourism in Iran as a structured and defined industry, and we are still engaged in drafting and revising regulations and the initial issues of this field." He pointed out the necessity of redefining the position of tourism in the country's governance system and emphasized that for this, we must have a forward-looking and avant-garde perspective.
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The President of the Association of Professional Tour Guides adds: "If we are to plan for tourism, we must see its connection with various issues of the country. Even in situations like war or crisis, the issue of tourism must be considered in the governance perspective of the country."
The Necessity of Infrastructure Reform
Yazdani also points out that various sectors such as hotels, entertainment and recreational centers, and tour guides are components of this field and must keep pace with daily developments. He believes that attention should be paid to the actions people take with access to new technologies in the field of tourism, and services should be defined and provided in accordance with the country's conditions.
He further explains: "Sometimes it is said that Iranians are known for their hospitality, but this hospitality sometimes comes with differences depending on the nationality or characteristics of the guest. It is necessary to define the concept of hospitality in the public culture of the country in a way that is compatible with the foundations of the tourism industry and is not discriminatory."
The President of the Association of Professional Tour Guides refers to the gap in service provision and tourism service providers and says: "The necessary infrastructure for the presence of tourists in the global space is not provided. In many parts of the world, people can purchase various services from across the globe from inside their homes, but we are still not connected to global buying and selling switches, and foreign tourists cannot easily purchase or use tourism services in Iran."
Creating Conditions for Tourism Growth
Mohammad Hossein Yazdani concludes by emphasizing that the most important issue is that the position of tourism in the country's governance system should be redefined and this field should find its real place in the governance structure. He states: "If this sector is properly reformed, many other issues will also find their way. In such conditions, investors will also enter the field to keep up with global developments and will bring the latest technologies to the country, designing or even producing and utilizing them in Iran."
Yazdani points out that the necessary groundwork for the real growth of tourism must be provided, and this industry can become one of the essential pillars of the country's economic development.
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