TEHRAN—Orhan Baki, the consultant of the Turkish tourism, commerce and trade company Sulduz considered Tabriz, the capital city of Iran’s East Azarbaijan province, one of the effective destinations for starting joint tourism cooperation between the two countries.

He highlighted Iran's real and field capacities in the field of tourism, and emphasized the necessity of an approach based on personal experience and civilizational commonalities, Miras Aria reported.

Referring to his field observations of Tabriz, he stated that the image drawn of Iran abroad is far from the social, cultural and tourism realities of this land, and the experience of being in Tabriz shows that security, social intimacy and economic interactivity are tangibly present in the heart of the city.

Emphasizing the role of social security in the decision-making of foreign tourists, he said that the market atmosphere, economic relations, and behavior of urban activists in Tabriz are such that a foreign tourist can travel confidently and peacefully in different parts of the city, and it is considered one of the most important indicators of choosing a destination in international tourism.

Referring to the common capacities of Iran and Turkey, Baki added that  Tabriz and Trabzon, as two neighboring destinations, can be the starting point for the formation of common tourism routes; a route that began with the regional cooperation and has the potential to expand to the other cities and destinations in the two countries.

Emphasizing the civilizational nature of Iran, he stated that  Iran is not just a collection of historical monuments, but rather a carrier of a living civilization that is reflected in social behavior, hospitality culture, the market, and the daily lives of the people, and the reality can only be understood through field presence and direct contact with geography, not through cyberspace and media narratives.

Baki continued that both countries are facing challenges, but international pressures on Iran require that countries and destinations with cultural and historical commonalities stand together with a supportive and cooperative outlook and use common capacities to develop tourism.

Emphasizing the role of executive institutions, he noted that cooperation with East Azarbaijan  Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department can take these programs from the idea level to the implementation stage and shape the future of regional tourism based on trust, mutual need and common interests, because Iran and Turkey need each other more than they think.

The city of Tabriz, known for its rich history, warm hospitality, and the UNESCO-listed Grand Bazaar, remains a key gateway for visitors, particularly those entering Iran from Armenia and Turkey.

KD