Iran to promote tourism to Zim
IRAN is committed to promoting Zimbabwe as a destination of choice as the country continues to move closer to attaining a US$5 billion tourism sector by 2025.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has been on a campaign to promote Zimbabwe as an investment and tourism destination the latest commitment by Iran is evidence that under the Second Republic the country has established itself as a friend to all and enemy to none.
The two countries already enjoy cordial political relations which are now set to cascade down to bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Iran currently has a gross domestic product of US$366 billion, is known for its massive reserves of fossil fuels and has 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the third-highest in Asia after China and India.
Iran’s President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi last year made a historic visit to Zimbabwe which set the tone for increased economic cooperation.
In an interview yesterday, Iran’s Cultural Counsellor in Zimbabwe Mr Hamid Bakhtiyar expressed Iran’s commitment saying Zimbabwe was a “very attractive” tourist destination.
He singled out the Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe as tourist destinations which Iranians would be interested in sampling.
“One of our cooperation is in the field of tourism and it is very important. Zimbabwe is a tourist destination and it is very attractive to tourists especially the Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe and other destinations in the country so we want to expand the number of tourists who visit both countries.
“We have tried to join tourism agencies from Iran and Zimbabwe to work with each other and promote the number of people who visit our countries. This is very important and will help us improve the tourism in both countries. We are ready for any cooperation to promote our relations because Zimbabwe and Iran are friends,” he said.
In another boost to relations, Mr Bakhtiyar said Iran had removed visa requirements for at least 30 countries including Zimbabwe.
This, he said, would set the tone for a major tourism boost between the two countries and was in sync with Zimbabwe’s diplomatic offensive.
“Recently the Government of Iran removed visa requirements for at least 30 countries and one of those countries is Zimbabwe and this shows that Iran is serious when it comes to tourism. The costs for medical services and medicines in Iran is very cheap so it is good for the people.
“I know that the Zimbabwean Government is looking to expand the number of tourists coming in to Zimbabwe so Iran can be one of the countries where people will be coming from to visit the country especially the Victoria Falls.
“As a Cultural Centre we are ready to join the two countries’ tourism agencies to facilitate if they want to visit Iran and also vice versa,” he said.
Mr Bakhtiyar said there was need for Zimbabwe and Iran to build on their already existing cordial political relations. Iran was ready to assist Zimbabwe where necessary.
Such stances by foreign nations are evidence that the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement drive continues to bear fruit.
“Iranian people and Zimbabweans have similarities in that our revolution was in 1979 one year before the Zimbabwe’s independence so Iranian people like Zimbabwean people. Our nation is interested in visiting Zimbabwe and we are ready to facilitate everything for Zimbabweans to travel to Iran for any goals and any targets.
“We are ready to help our brother Zimbabwe in any field for cooperation. There are good political relations between Zimbabwe and Iran. As you know last year President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi visited Zimbabwe and we signed 12 MoUs in different fields.
“So our relations in the political field are very good and they are at a high position but we need to develop and expand our relations in the cultural and artistic fields,” he said.
Mr Bakhtiyar went on to describe sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe as “economic terrorism”, saying they were a hindrance to the realisation of Zimbabwe’s full potential.
“Since 1979 the victory of the Islamic revolution, Iran was under sanctions from the United States of America and other countries but our nation believed in itself. Zimbabwe is under these sanctions as well so this position is bringing Iran and Zimbabwe together because we have one goal which is to fight the arrogant countries.
“Sanctions are for the ordinary people so why would they want to put sanctions that affect the ordinary people, this is not humane, but it is economic terrorism. So I pray for both nations especially for Zimbabwe to be successful in fighting the arrogant countries because Zimbabwe is an independent country and we hope that the economic situation in Zimbabwe becomes better every day,” he said.
Mr Bakhtiyar cultural exchanges between the two countries were equally crucial.
“It is very important that both countries know each other’s traditions. We have different festivals in Iran and we sometimes invite Zimbabwe to attend and this helps us to further promote our cooperation because it helps the people in both countries to know about each other.
“We attended ZITF in Bulawayo and it was very good for us and we can prepare for space for Zimbabweans who are prepared to exhibit at international exhibitions in Iran so we can prepare free space for our brother Zimbabwe. It will help Iranian people to know more about Zimbabwe,” he said.