As statistics and evidence presented by tourism industry show, the personal accounts and preconceptions of foreign visitors on Iran completely change once their trip is through.
The head of Iran National Library and Archive, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, hosting Morteza Rahmani Movahed, the tourism deputy of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO), emphasized the significance of international travelers and their positive impact in changing the “negative image” of Iran.
“Unfortunately there is a false image of Iran among other nations of the world, and we should alter it using culture as a tool,” he added.
Salehi Amiri acknowledged the efforts of President Rouhani’s government on the matter, but noted that to create a more realistic, true image takes time, and demands interaction of all related cultural organizations and institutions.
He pointed out that in less than seven months from the appointment of the national library’s new management, over 5,000 scholars and luminaries have visited and used its facilities, adding that a “large part of our beliefs, customs, and traditions are interesting for foreigners and they like to know more about them.”
“We, at the National Library of Iran, are ready to respond to this need using the high potential of Iranian intellectuals and academicians by exposing tourists to programs and information at various levels and provide them with cultural tours”, stated the official.
During his visit to the library, Rahmani Movahed, voiced his organization’s readiness to host cultural tours for domestic and international tourists and introducing them to the rich culture and history of Iran.
