Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization has formally asked the Foreign Ministry to issue free visas for the 450 foreign visitors scheduled to attend the upcoming International Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guide Association.
The convention is scheduled for Jan. 28–Feb. 1, 2017, in Tehran, Mehr News Agency reported.
Earlier in June, organizers of the event held a meeting with Morteza Rahmani Movahed, tourism deputy at ICHHTO and Foreign Ministry officials to discuss issues concerning electronic visas for the guests.
A month later, Movahed wrote a letter to Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi, asking him to take steps to ease the visa procedures.
Iran was granted the right to host the event by securing enough votes last year. The slogan “Iran: Open Arms, Ancient Charms” was selected for the convention after hundreds of experts brainstormed ideas and about 200 people actively worked on it. Preparations for the event began in June 2015.
The 2017 WFTGA convention coincides with the 10th festival and conference of Iran’s Federation of Tourist Guide Associations to be held on the sidelines of the convention.
Before the convention kicks off, the participants will travel to the provinces of Alborz, Qazvin and Hamedan. The tour also involves visits to the largest brick dome in the world in Soltaniyeh in Abhar Country, Zanjan province.
After the event, those in attendance will visit Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd and Kashan.
During the event, WFTGA members will elect the new board of directors and the host of the 18th convention.
