MADRID (IRNA) -- Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Francesco Frangialli welcomed on Wednesday Iran's proposal on promoting world tourism in a way that it would serve dialogue among different religions and civilizations.

In a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Spain Davud Salehi, the secretary general said that the UN body was planning to conduct an international conference in Spain to discuss the proposal.

He added the conference might be held in the Spanish city of Cordoba next fall.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of a ceremony in Madrid to mark the 60th anniversary of the UNWTO establishment.

Iran's proposal was recently presented to Frangialli in a letter sent by Head of Iran's Tourism and Cultural Heritage Organization Rahim Mashaii.

Frangialli said that he would invite Rahim-Mashaii to deliver a speech at the Cordoba conference.

The Iranian official had written to Frangialli that Tehran is decisive to attract cooperation and support of various international and regional forums for promotion of the culture of dialogue among different religions and civilization.

Rahim-Mashaii had said the move would help strengthen peace among all nations and faiths worldwide.

ECO tourism fund to be established: Iran official

Deputy director of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Sharif Malekzadeh said that a fund has been set up to encourage tourism industry in ECO member states, IRNA reported.

Speaking in a news conference, he discussed the achievements gained at the first meeting of tourism top experts of ECO members held in Tehran, adding in the meeting it was agreed and scheduled to establish the fund within a month from the meeting date.

The first meeting of ECO tourism top experts was held here in Tehran from Dec 11-13 in the presence of tourism experts from Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

In the meeting, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan along with ECO Cultural Institute and the meeting secretariat were assigned to compose a set of directives for the fund.

Malekzadeh referred to declaration by ECO member states of the goods banned for the tourists to exchange as a positive point gained through the meeting in customs affairs.

He said that ECO members have nominated November 28 as ECO Day, adding that the members present in the meeting planned the First Tourism Festival of the member countries to be held on November 28 next year in Tehran.