Iran and Japan will sign a memorandum of understanding in the near future for bolstering tourism ties between the two nations.
On Tuesday, Iran's ambassador to the Asian island nation, Morteza Rahmani Movahed, met with Hiroshi Tabata, commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, affiliated with the country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The officials discussed ways of boosting bilateral cooperation in the tourism industry, increasing cultural ties and holding special programs in 2019 to mark the 90th year of Iran-Japan ties, IRNA reported.
"The tourism MoU between Iran and Japan is on the agenda of the Japan Tourism Agency and we will finalize it soon," Tabata said, expressing hope that it will act in line with expansion of bilateral ties.
The Iranian ambassador welcomed the idea, saying Tehran is ready to finalize the tourism MoU with Japan.
Rahmani also invited Tabata to visit Iran, which was welcomed by Tabata who agreed to participate in next year's events to mark the anniversary of bilateral ties.
The Japanese official also outlined for the ambassador some of the measures taken by Japan to better accommodate Muslim tourists.
The country has increasingly focused on attracting Muslim visitors by incorporating prerequisites of halal tourism.
The Japan Tourism Agency was established a decade ago in October 2008 to promote government-wide measures for realizing a world-class tourist industry.
Acting under the supervision of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the office of the commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency is a major entity tasked with decision-making for developing the country's tourism sector.
The commissioner is also obligated to make coordination between state-run and private-sector entities active in the sector.
