Press & PR Manager at Worlds’ Travel Market exhibition Paul Nelson welcomed the increase in Irans’ participation at the exhibition this year and also said western businesses ready to invest in Iran.

Following is the full text of interview with Paul Nelson with IRNA:

Q. What has been the fruit of Irans’ presence in the Exhibition?

A. I think it will take an education process. Tourists need to be informed of everything has to offer. Because of the climate that we had before the breakthrough regarding the diplomatic relation, I don’t think people would have been aware of 19 world heritage sites in Iran. Iran has the most world’s heritage sites in whole of the Middle East.

So I think there needs to be a campaign from Iran to push these messages; but once the message are pushed, there is no reason why it cannot boom from tourism prospective.

Q. Has it had significant effect on the tourism industry?

A. I would say it definitely had an impact as far as interest in concerned, because prior to that there were no coverage at all of Iran as a potential destination in the media which then means that no holidaymaker would be considering going to Iran.
However since that deal there has been so much PR and coverage in the newspapers that has definitely led to an increase in interest and we had seen Iran’s stand in the World Travel Market seven times bigger than it has been before.

Q. Are western businesses ready to invest in Iran?

A. Definitely, If you look at Accor, they talked about building hotels in Iran; I think it will take western investment to help the country to develop its tourism section.

Q. What is your prospect of Iran’s tourism in future?

A. Iran claim to have 20 million holidaymakers by 2025; This is really an ambitious target, but having the most world’s heritage sites in the Middle East, as well as the natural beauties and the history, there is no reason why it cannot achieve that.

IRNA
Nov 3, 2015