Zurab Pololikashvili

A view of Si-e Tir St. in downtown Tehran, which is now an “Accessible Tourism Destination” based on recommendations and guidelines formulated by the World Tourism Organization.

2020-09-15 18:30

Iran attending UNTWO meeting on corona-hit tourism industry

TEHRAN – Iran has participated in the 112th session of the executive council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which started in Georgia on Tuesday, aiming to find ways to help the global travel industry recover from impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

2020-08-30 18:28

If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart: UNWTO Secretary-General

TEHRAN – In his latest massage regarding the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General has said “If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart.”

Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan speaks in an undated photo.

2020-08-18 19:10

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

2020-08-05 13:22

Corona is a reality but it cannot stop traveling, tourism minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Tuesday said that it is true that the coronavirus pandemic is a [bitter] reality but it cannot bring traveling to a complete standstill.

2020-07-03 18:17

UNWTO meeting: Iran outlines measures to help tourism recover from COVID-19

TEHRAN – Iran took part in a virtual seminar of the United Nations World Tourism Organization on Wednesday, outlining measures the country has taken so far to prop up the travel industry since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

A conference, chaired by Vali Teymouri, the deputy tourism minister, brings together deputy ministers from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development along with representatives from the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, discussing health protocols needed to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic, on July 1, 2020.

2020-07-02 00:16

Iran setting rules to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The ministries of tourism and health in close collaboration with several other government bodies are defining a series of rules for admitting foreign travelers to the country amid a standstill in the global tourism industry caused mainly by the coronavirus.

File photo depicts an elegant hotel under construction in Tehran.

2020-06-29 19:26

49 tourism projects worth $273m to come on stream

TEHRAN – A total of 49 tourism projects, worth 11,500 billion rials (some $273m at the official rate of 42,000 rials) will soon be inaugurated across the country.

United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili

2020-06-23 21:24

Iran ‘has earned plaudits’ to ease COVID-19 impact on tourism, UNWTO says

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organization has praised efforts made by Iran's tourism ministry to manage the travel industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

File photo depicts international travelers posing for a photo during their visits to the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, which was once the ceremonial capital of the mighty Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC), in southern Iran.

2020-05-09 18:09

COVID-19 cuts foreign arrivals in Iran by 15.8%: UNWTO

TEHRAN – Iran has suffered an average 15.8 percent fall in foreign arrivals during the first three months of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that analyzes impact of the COVID-19 on international tourism.

File photo depicts an Iranian family wearing protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they stand at Grand Bazaar in Tehran, February 20, 2020. (Credit: West Asia News Agency)

2020-04-26 20:00

“Words Alone Will Not Save Jobs”: UNWTO calls for action to support tourism recovery

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general of the UNITED Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has urged member states to increase pressure on world leaders to take decisive action to safeguard the millions of jobs under threat as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNWTO said in press release on Friday.

Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili and Iran’s tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan visiting Tehran’s Golestan Palace on Nov. 12, 2018 / Photo by ILNA

2020-04-03 22:07

UNWTO calls for action to help virus-hit tourism

TEHRAN – The UNITED Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recently released a set of recommendations, calling for urgent and strong support to help the global tourism sector in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has crippled traveling and jeopardized related jobs all over the globe.

People cross Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, which is located in the north-central part of the city of Tehran in a zone called Abbas Abad Lands.

2020-02-09 23:11

Tehran proposes to host UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality has suggested to host the [United Nations] World Tourism Organization’s Global Summit on Urban Tourism in 2021.

A file photo shows UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili (L) meeting with Iran’s tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan (R) in Tehran.

2019-09-30 20:54

Tourism holds considerable potential to build a better, more equal future, UNWTO chief says

TEHRAN – Tourism holds considerable potential to build a better, more equal future in the global scene as no single economic, social or human activity prospers in isolation, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has said.

Ali-Asghar Mounesan (R) and Zurab Pololikashvili hold talks in an undated photo.

2019-09-06 17:39

UNWTO chief congratulates Mounesan on becoming tourism minister

TEHRAN – United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili in a letter on Thursday congratulated Ali-Asghar Mounesan on becoming Iran’s tourism minister.

Tourist guide and international travelers pose for a photo during their visit to Sarv-e Abarkuh (“Cypress of Abarkuh”), which is estimated to date 4,500 years, in Yazd province, Iran.

2019-05-22 19:08

Middle East leads global tourism arrivals growth in Q1

TEHRAN – The Middle East tops international arrivals over the first quarter of 2019, with an eight percent growth year on year, according to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer from the World Tourism Organization.

2019-01-26 22:54

CHHTO, UNWTO ink agreement to foster cooperation

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.