WTO: Iran understands tourism concept before West

Rifai made the remarks here on Saturday in a press conference related to World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA) convention.

He said Iran is source of history and culture and heart of Silk Road.

Whoever intends to pass the Silk Road, should pass Iran and the tourists had always been interested in the country.

Iran did not reach the position in tourism industry, which deserved it, in the past years, but the message of today’s conference means return of Iran to the world tourism community.

Answering a question concerning position of the WTO in checking the restrictions imposed by the US president, Rifai said the UN does not accept construction of walls between countries, but unfortunately the organization is not the legislative body and may only warn against violation of the morale values.

President of the WFTGA, Felicitas Wressnig, replying IRNA question about the most important weakness and strength points of Iran’s current tourism, she said hospitality is the most important point of strength and sanitation services are the most important point of weakness of the country.

She said Hijab is not an obstacle for tourists and added that in different countries, when we go to a mosque or shrine we have the same cover.

The 7th convention of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Association is held in Iran for the first time by participation of around 500 tourist guides from more than 40 countries from January 28 to February 1, 2017.

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