TEHRAN – Iran will host its first festival and exhibition on children and youth tourism in Tehran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The announcement was made during a meeting at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, attended by public and private sector representatives, Deputy Tourism Minister Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey said. The event will be held at Milad Tower in Tehran.

Seyyed Hossein Fatemi, director general of domestic tourism development at the ministry, said the exhibition aligns with this year’s UN Tourism’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” He said programs should focus on the theme to maximize their impact at both national and provincial levels.

Zahra Nabizadeh, a member of the national children’s tourism committee and scientific secretary of the festival, said the initiative aims to highlight the role of children in preserving cultural heritage while creating new economic opportunities. “Children are trustees of the culture and heritage of this land,” she said, adding that child-focused tours, standardized facilities, and links between education and the economy could strengthen the sector.

She said the exhibition would feature specialized booths, artistic and cultural performances, travel services for children, as well as traditional games and music.

Mohseni-Bandpey emphasized the importance of hands-on learning, saying that real-life experiences were more lasting than theory. “We must familiarize children and teenagers with Iran’s natural, historical, and cultural capacities, from the Hyrcanian forests to the country’s ancient civilizations,” he said. He added that the government’s role was to support and facilitate, while the private sector should lead with creative programs throughout the year.

Officials from the state and private sectors attending the session also underlined the need for cooperation to develop the field of children’s tourism, citing its potential to promote social well-being, cultural growth, and job creation.

The poster of the event was unveiled at the end of the meeting.

AM