TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations World Tourism Organization to develop ties for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

The agreement was signed in a meeting between CHHTO Director Ali-Asghar Mounesan and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili on the sidelines of the 39th FITUR tourism trade fair in Madrid, ISNA reported on Friday.

Both sides agreed to step up ties to develop Iran’s eco-tourism and rural tourism. The agreement also aims to create a “positive” image of Iran in the world market as a safe tourism destination.

Accessible Tourism is another pillar of the memorandum, based on which, both sides agreed to negotiate a pilot plan to encourage tourism.

Last November, Pololikashvili paid a visit to Iran. He made a keynote speech at the 40th UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session held in the city of Hamedan.

Lots of visitors to Iran believe that Western media often portray Iran negatively, saying there is a widespread misunderstanding about the true nature and safety of the country, which is tainted by the reputation of some of its more politically unstable neighbors.

The 2019 Travel Risk Map, which shows the risk level around the world, puts Iran among countries with “insignificant risk”, a category where the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, and Finland are placed in.

AFM/MQ/MG