Tourism officials from Iran and Tunisia have signed a memorandum of understanding on promoting tourism cooperation.
As reported by the Persian daily Donya-e-Eqtesad, Masoud Soltanifar, head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, and Tunisian Minister for Tourism and Handicrafts Selma Elloumi Rekik signed the agreement on Friday in Tunis.
“The agreement signals the beginning of a prosperous relationship between the two countries, both of which have great potential for tourism,” said Rekik at the event, which was attended by Tunisian journalists and heads of private companies from both countries.
According to the MoU, the two states have agreed to cooperate in the areas of tourism education and marketing, as well as joint investment in tourism projects.
The minister pointed to meetings between the two country’s private firms in recent days and joint exhibitions and conferences as “effective means to boost ties.”
Stressing the importance of direct flights between Tunisia and Iran, Rekik said that they will be launched soon.
Soltanifar confirmed that direct flights are expected to begin in the second half of 2016.
Mohamed Ali Toumi, president of the Tunisian Association of Travel Agents voiced his organization’s support for the new phase in Iran-Tunisia relations and pledged to contribute to the plans outlined in the MoU.
Jamshid Hamzezadeh, president of Iran’s Hoteliers Society, said the IHS is ready to assist Tunisian financiers to invest in hotel projects in Iran and proposed a plan to organize joint events and exhibitions in hotel management.
