TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism industry continues to attract international interest, an expert said, following the country’s participation in the FITUR international tourism fair in Madrid last week.

Mojgan Izadi, chair of the Tourism, Carpet and Handicrafts Commission at the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, said Iran’s presence at the 46th FITUR fair showed the country remains a destination of interest for global tourism markets.

Speaking on the sidelines of Iran’s national pavilion at the fair, held from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25, Izadi said feedback from professional meetings showed strong familiarity with Iran among visitors, travel agencies and tour operators, Miras Aira reported on Sunday.

“In B2B and B2P meetings, many participants were already aware of Iran and its unique tourism capacities, and there was no need for basic destination introduction,” the expert said.

Izadi added that the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce attended the event to support five tourism agencies from the province, in line with its mandate to facilitate and back its members’ activities.

Iran’s pavilion at FITUR was organized by the Touring and Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an affiliate of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.

Isfahan, one of Iran’s main tourist destinations, used the event to present its cultural, historical and tourism capacities. The central province has historically been located on major trade routes and reached prominence between the 9th and 18th centuries, becoming Iran’s capital during the Safavid era.

Izadi thanked organizers of Iran’s pavilion, saying the country’s coordinated presence at FITUR played an effective role in presenting Iran’s tourism sector to international audiences.

The ancient city of Isfahan reached its zenith between the 9th and 18th centuries. During the Safavid era, it became Iran’s capital under Shah Abbas the Great. The Persian proverb “Isfahan nesf-e-jahan ast” (Isfahan is half the world) reflects the city’s cultural and historical prominence.

AM