 Referring to the importance and role of tourism industry in economic development, Dr. Pourzarandi said it is clear to everyone that tourism is future hope of employment and economy in many countries since this sectors, as clean industry and an economic pinioned that is interrelated with other economic sectors, has transformed the fate of many countries.
Noting that according to the World Travel and Tourism Organization, tourism accounted for 7.6 trillion USD i.e. 10% of GDP in 2017 and it has created 292 million jobs equals one tenth of global employment, he added it is accounted for 6.6% of the world exports and 30% of service exports in this sector.
Saying that these figures indicate the increasing importance of this sector, particularly since we notice that there will be nearly 2 billion international tourists in 2030 and a close competition among countries and cities to attract tourists, he said tourism has had the fastest growth among the various sectors of the world economy for the sixth consecutive year. Despite geopolitical unrest and economic and political turmoil, tourism has boosted the lives of millions through job creation, poverty reduction and the promotion of development.
Stressing that the industry is capable of leading to sustainable employment and helping to bring world peace through bridging nations and cultures, he further said tourism is more sensitive to ecosystem than other parts of the economy, and it helps to preserve biodiversity in the earth.
Highlighting that for an increase of 30 tourists, a new job can be created, he said many countries have come to the conclusion that creating barriers and problems for tourists does not lead to security of the country, but also opportunities for economic growth and job creation will be lost.
Despite the fact that Iran is a fascinating and incredibly cheap destination, it is not still in a in a decent position in this industry, Dr. Pourzarandi said.
Dr. Pourzarandi added that Iran is well-positioned in terms of price competitiveness, which is measured by indicators such as ticket taxes and airport charges, hotel price index, purchasing power parity and fuel prices. This indicates that Iran is a cheap and economical destination for tourists, and it should plan for it as a country that is ranked 9th in the world in terms of cultural heritage sites.
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