The Iran Tourism Board concluded its successful three city roadshow in India. It was aimed at promoting Iran’s rich cultural heritage as well as diverse travel experiences. The roadshow, which began on September 10 in Mumbai, continued on September 12 in Hyderabad, and concluded on September 13 in New Delhi, promoted the Islamic Republic of Iran for Indian tourists as one of the top travel destinations.
The event featured prominent dignitaries, including Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, deputy of tourism at the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Ministry, Moslem Shojaee, director general for international tourism promotion, Mofidifar, acting consul general of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Mumbai, and Rahul Narwekar, speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
The roadshow was designed to strengthen tourism ties between India, Iran and other countries by engaging Indian travel agents and tourism professionals. Eleven Iranian hoteliers, travel agents, and tourism professionals participated in the roadshow to explore business collaborations and present tourism packages tailored for India’s market. The partnership with Indian tourism organizations like MTOA, TAAI and TAFI as well as IATO, further increased Iran’s visibility in the Indian travel agency market.
Hosseinabadi spoke at the event and expressed excitement over the roadshow’s successes, saying:
“We are delighted to present the beauty of Iran and its historical richness to the Indian Market.”
This roadshow was a great opportunity to promote Iran’s cultural treasures and historic landmarks as well as its renowned hospitality. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with Indian agents and welcoming more Indian tourists to Iran.”
Shalbafian emphasized the deep-rooted historical and culture ties between India & Iran by referencing the shared legacy of iconic Persian Poets such as Rumi & Hafez, as well as India’s Amir Khusro Dehlavi. He also highlighted their role as cultural mediators between both nations. He also highlighted Mumbai’s crucial role in fostering connections between India and Iran, both culturally and commercially.
India and Iran are working together on a memorandum to strengthen tourism ties. This is in response to an increase of Indian tourists visiting Iran because of the visa waiver. The agreement will focus primarily on increasing mutual tourism, and establishing more direct flight routes between different cities within both countries.
Mofidifar Mofidifar is the acting Consul General of Iran for Mumbai. He delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the strategic importance of the Chabahar port project for regional connectivity and trade. He encouraged Indian travelers to explore the real Iran beyond media portrayals by visiting the country, engaging with its culture and people.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Iranian Tour Operators Association and the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India. This historic agreement was signed by Mostafa Shafie Shakib Chairman of ITOA and Riaz munshi President of OTOAI. It represents a significant step towards strengthening tourism ties in India and Iran. The signing ceremony was held during ITB India 2020. It was witnessed by members of both associations including Shravan Bhalla, Vice-President of OTOAI and Monia Kapoor Joint Secretary of OTOAI. The MoU reaffirms the commitment of both countries to promote tourism growth, explore new opportunities, and create sustainable partnerships. The presence of Iranian delegates underscored the importance this collaboration has in enhancing tourism.
India is a major source of international tourists for Iran. In 2023, Iran welcomed nearly 5.9 million international visitors, with more than 58,000 Indian tourists—a 31 per cent increase from the previous year. This rise is a reflection of the growing interest among Indian tourists in Iran’s unique tourism offerings. From its historic landmarks and vibrant cultural experiences, this includes a 31 per cent increase from the previous year.
Iran is served from 59 airports by 34 international and 25 domestic airlines, including 11 international ones. Iran’s tourism infrastructure is growing, and now has over 6,700 units of accommodation, from hotels to eco lodges, with more 300,000 beds for visitors.
