As part of plans to promote the Resistance Economy, First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri has called on Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization to prioritize three areas, the vice president’s official website, fvpresident.com, reported.
Jahangiri instructed the ICHHTO to prepare a comprehensive plan to support the handicraft sector, which includes setting up workshops and providing loans to craftsmen and women, in a bid to empower Iranian artisans and develop the sector.
The organization has also been told to prepare a roadmap to develop the emerging tourism sector.
Iran’s annual revenue from tourism is just over $8 billion, generated by roughly five million visitors. The country’s declared goal is to attract 20 million tourists by 2025, which should theoretically generate about $30 billion.
“The ICHHTO must send (to the Cabinet) reports on the progress of the plans every two weeks, but the government reserves the right to randomly assess the progress made in each one of the three areas,” Jahangiri said in his letter to the ICHHTO, adding that the organization may be commended or penalized depending on the progress made.