Iran tourism infrastructure development

Iran has initiated significant efforts to expand its tourism infrastructure and economic capacity through large-scale investment and financing agreements.

Initially, Bank Melli Iran and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts signed a 30 trillion rial memorandum of understanding to accelerate tourism and handicraft projects. This agreement established a joint committee to streamline credit approval and project implementation to support investors and infrastructure development.

Following these financing efforts, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the inauguration of 246 tourism projects valued at 35 trillion tomans, which are expected to create approximately 3,200 jobs. In Isfahan alone, eight projects worth over 7 trillion tomans were launched. The President noted that despite international sanctions, developing cultural and commercial ties with neighboring countries remains essential for national prosperity. He also pledged to reform cumbersome laws and regulations to support industry professionals.

Expanding on these infrastructure goals, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has introduced new strategies to grow the museum network. Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri announced a target to open 100 new museums annually under a ‘one city, one museum’ initiative. Additionally, a ‘Tourism on the Coast’ program is being developed to transform the southern coastline—from Chabahar and Makran through Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan—into a primary hub by developing coastal accommodations, piers, and marinas. Efforts are also underway in Golestan to facilitate private sector investment and promote underutilized regions through targeted marketing.