Tajikistan, Iran sign MoU on tourism cooperation

DUSHANBE, April 10, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation for 2010-2014, Asia-Plus has learned from Lochin Fayzulloyev, deputy head of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan.

According to him, Maliksho Nematov, the head of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs, and Seyyed Reza Mousavi, the deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO), inked the document here on April 10.

The document provides for exchange of experience between the tourism sector specialists of the two countries, organization of mutual tourist trips, organization of training courses for Tajik tourism specialists in Iran, creation of joint tourist groups for propagation of historical resources of the Silk Road, Fayzulloyev said.  “One of the main points of the document is the establishment of International University of Tourism in Tajikistan that will be the first higher educational institution of this kind in Central Asia,” he added.

Iranian delegation, led by Seyyed Reza Mousavi, arrived in Tajikistan Thursday (April 8) evening.  The main purpose of the visit was for the delegation to discuss with Tajik officials ways of establishment of bilateral mutually beneficial tourism cooperation.  On April 9, they held talks with representatives of the Tajik government and invited Tajik delegation to visit Iran for discussion of further steps for expansion the tourism cooperation.

Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization is an educational and research institution overseeing numerous associated museum complexes throughout Iran. It is administered and funded by the Government of Iran.  ICHHTO was established in 1985 by legislation from the Majles (Iran’s parliament) merging 11 research and cultural organizations.  It publishes and oversees the publication of many journals and books, and carries out projects in conjunction with foreign museums and academia.  It is similar in scope and activity to the Smithsonian Institution.  Cultural Heritage News Agency is a non-government news agency that produces cultural, cultural heritage, tourism and art news.