Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian and Chinese officials here on Wednesday signed an agreement to facilitate tour packages to Iran for the Chinese nationals.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Tehran, deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization for Tourism Affairs Mohammad Sharif Malek-zadeh described China as the main center promoting tourist industry in Asia, and said China has very specific and distinguished views about the tourist industry, “and, thus, Iran attaches much significance to the facilitation of tourist travel to Iran for the Chinese people.”
He also said that the new agreement is, in fact, an extension of a five-year-long agreement between the two countries which expired early last summer.
The official also stated, “Considering the significance of the Chinese market for Iran and Beijing’s recent decision for nominating Iran as a tourist destination, the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization has compiled several plans to activate the private sector in a bid to promote the two states’ interactions, specially in grounds of tourism.”
According to Malek-zadeh the two sides have also decided during the meeting to exchange the needed information and data about tourist offices and agencies to facilitate selection of tourist resorts, cut prices and eventually facilitate tourist trips to either country.
He also said that Iran cares about training Chinese language translators, given the fact that it is rather difficult for the Chinese to learn English.
The official said that several centers are currently busy teaching Chinese language to the Iranian tour guides, and expressed the hope that the said individuals can soon serve Chinese tourists in Iran.
