TEHRAN—Qom province will gain special status in domestic and foreign tourism within five years through expanding the infrastructures, supporting the private sector and continued management stability, said Cultural Heritage Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri.

According to ISNA, speaking on the sidelines of inauguration of Avaye Qom Hotel on Wednesday, he said: “Our first visit to the province’s industrial and production capacities was at the Chamber of Commerce; the exhibitions demonstrate the significant development of the industrial, commercial, and tourism infrastructure, and promises a bright future for investment and economic growth in Qom province.”

Referring to the opening of a recreational complex, Salehi-Amiri said: “This project, with an area of 11,000 square meters and an investment of 4,500 billion rials ($4.5 million) from the private sector, will provide a recreational and invigorating space for young people and will meet some of the needs of the younger generation.”

Avaye Qom Hotel, with private investment and modern design, provides a 100-bed accommodation capacity and reflects the growth of the province's tourism infrastructure, he said. This three-star hotel, with its architecture and regular layout, creates a suitable experience for domestic and foreign tourists, he added.

Expressing his appreciation to Qom Governor-General, he emphasized that the governor-general, with his detailed understanding of the tourism sector and successful experience, has played an important role in developing the province's infrastructure and activating unfinished projects. 

He continued that Qom with its cultural heritage and handicrafts capacity and drawing domestic and foreign tourists, can turn into one of Iran’s tourism hubs. It can be a major pilgrimage destination following Mashhad and Shiraz, he added. 

“To attract tourists, infrastructure development is essential; tourists must have appropriate accommodation, welfare services, and recreational facilities, and this is not possible without the participation and investment of the private sector.”

Regarding the government's planning in the tourism field, he said that according to the Seventh Plan, the target of an annual growth of 25 to 30 percent in Qom tourism has been set, and with the cooperation of the provincial administration and investors, this goal can be achieved.

He added that the pilgrimage area, especially Jamkaran and the holy shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (SA), has the capacity to attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists, and infrastructure projects are on the path to activation in cooperation with the private sector.

Referring to last year's statistics, he said that nearly 7.4 million foreign tourists entered the country, and with the plans made, the goal of increasing Iraqi tourists to five million has been set in cooperation with Iraqi Minister.

Salehi-Amiri clarified that the activation of Qom Airport will enable direct entry of tourists from the Persian Gulf countries and other regions, and it can be the second destination for tourists for domestic and pilgrimage trips.

He emphasized: “Today's visit to the province's industrial and tourism projects and discussions with investors indicate rapid growth and tangible changes in the city, lifestyle and architecture of Qom, and this conveys a clear message of the province's progress to the government.”

KD