Iran’s top oil and tourism officials signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to help develop the nascent industrial tourism sector and help the Oil Ministry in its mission to familiarize the public with the country’s century-old oil and gas sector.
The agreement was signed by Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and the director of the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Masoud Soltanifar, travel news website donyayesafar.com reported.
The ministry announced in December its intention to turn one of Tehran’s oldest gasoline stations into a first-ever oil industry museum.
Two other museums in the oil cities of Abadan and Masjed Soleiman in the south will also be established soon.
Establishment of the museums is part of a comprehensive plan by the ministry to familiarize the public with the century-old history of Iran’s key oil/gas industry.
The agreement is expected to help the ICHHTO develop industrial tourism, which involves visits to operational companies and industrial heritage sites. It offers visitors an experience with regard to products, production processes, applications, and historical backgrounds.
In addition to familiarizing domestic and foreign tourists with the history of Iranian industries, it is thought that a well-developed industrial tourism sector along with well-planned tours is “essential to presenting the full potential of Iranian industries to potential investors,” according to Ali Yavari, director of the Industrial Tourism Project in Iran.
With oil prices plunging to historic lows, the government in Tehran has made known that reviving the tourism sector is one of its priorities. After Iran signed the nuclear agreement with the six world powers last July and sanctions were lifted, there has been mounting interest by the international community, westerners in particular, to visit Iran and its beautiful tourist destinations.;
