Iran Is First Time Exhibitor At Record Breaking World Travel Market 2005

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. October 14, 2008

LONDON, UK, July 28, 2005. Iran comes to World Travel Market for the first time this year as a collective tourism marketing force.

Leading Iranian tour operators have made the journey to the exhibition in previous years to take part as individuals.

But this year will be the first time that a dozen companies, regional representatives and government tourism officials will be found on a single stand during World Travel Market week between Monday 14 and Thursday 17 November at ExCeL London.

Iran is one of a number of new exhibitors this year. Organisers are forecasting the leading global business to business event for the industry will be more than four per cent larger than last year with 193 countries participating.

Tehran-based Pasargad Tours is an eight-year veteran of the event and has been handed the job of co-ordinating Iran's appearance.

Pasargad marketing director Parvaneh Sattari said a decision to combine the resources of the Iran Tourism Board and the Department of Cultural Heritage under the new umbrella organisation of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation of Iran heralded a new determination to make an impact on the international tourism stage.

The fact that the new organisation is headed up by the country's Deputy President indicates the weight the country now places on tourism, and the delegation heading for London is full of confidence.

"Iran is not a mass tourism, sun and sea destination," said Sattari, "but that means we get the best type of tourist.

"Iran is a cultural tourism destination attracting mature, well educated, well travelled people who know that we have had some bad publicity in the international press in the past but who still want to come and see the country for themselves."

The appearance of Iran has been welcomed by Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director. She said:" The attraction of World Travel Market is that it really is global and can reach out to countries that have not been thought of as holiday destinations in the past. This is how many other destinations have built a new and different reputation as a unique place to visit."

Germany has been Iran's strongest tourism market over the last two or three years, following a fall-off in the number of Italian visitors prompted by general travel fears post September 11.

Other key European markets include France, Spain, Austria and the UK, while Scandinavia and Japan also figure in tourism arrivals statistics, along with the USA - a surprising inclusion given the traditional political chilliness between the two countries.

Iran's delegation to World Travel Market this year will include a number of key provinces, such as Lorestan, a region of outstanding natural beauty offering eco-tourism and soft adventure, and Fars, a centre of exceptional architectural treasures.

"Iran is a vast country and we can offer anything from skiing to trekking, white water rafting to ancient mosques - you name, we have it," said Sattari.