Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri made the remarks on Tuesday at a ceremony where the investment package was unveiled and guidelines for conducting tourism activities at the country’s water resources and facilities were signed.

Salehi Amiri described the move as the starting point of a major initiative for the future of Iran’s tourism industry, saying the country has extensive water tourism potential in its northern, southern and western regions.

“Iran can turn water tourism into one of the serious priorities for tourism development,” he said.

The minister also said tourism could help counter negative portrayals of Iran abroad, arguing that visitors often change their perceptions after experiencing the country firsthand.

He noted that Iran’s share of the global water tourism market remains very small despite its extensive aquatic resources.

The minister also highlighted Iran’s extensive historical heritage and the country’s rich legacy of water-related structures, stressing the need to establish a stronger link between cultural heritage and water tourism.

Salehi Amiri called for the production of content about Iran’s historical water structures and heritage sites so that the country can introduce this experience to UNESCO.

Iran can present its experience in developing structures specifically designed to promote tourism to the World Tourism Organization, the minister concluded.