Iran Proposes OIC Tourism Cooperation Reforms at Tashkent Meeting
Iran has presented six proposals to expand tourism cooperation among OIC member states. The proposals came during a coordination committee meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Iranian officials attended the 10th meeting of the OIC Tourism Coordination Committee. Delegates also reviewed the selection process for Islamic tourism capital cities. The discussions covered the years 2028 through 2030.
Key Proposals and Strategic Initiatives
Iranian representatives called for revising the current selection mechanism. They want to ensure broader regional participation among member states. The current system does not distribute benefits evenly. A more balanced approach would help all regions prosper. Iran proposed selecting one city from each OIC region annually. This replaces the current single-city system effectively. The three regions are Africa, Arab countries, and Asia.
The delegation included senior Iranian tourism officials. Moslem Shojaei leads foreign tourism marketing and development. Seyyed Javad Mousavi represents Razavi Khorasan province. They presented six strategic proposals during the meeting.
Areas of Cooperation and Future Plans
The proposals include developing Islamic heritage tourism routes. Iran also suggested creating an OIC Halal tourism network. Annual tourism exhibitions would showcase member states’ offerings. Visa facilitation would make travel easier between countries. Medical tourism cooperation represents another key area. The revision of the tourism capital selection mechanism completes the package.
The meeting focused on strengthening multilateral cooperation. Officials discussed cultural and historical tourism extensively. Halal tourism and medical tourism received significant attention. Visa facilitation emerged as a priority for many delegates. Shared tourism capacities could benefit all member states.
Selection Process and Regional Rotation
Under the OIC’s regional rotation system, each region gets a turn. The 2028 title is allocated to African countries. Arab countries will host the tourism capital in 2029. Asian countries will take the title in 2030. Iran serves on the 10-member evaluation committee.
Final decisions will occur at the December 2026 ministers’ conference. The OIC Tourism Ministers’ Conference takes place in Doha, Qatar. The designation of a tourism capital drives investment and development. It also promotes cultural and historical assets across member states.
