Iran, notorious as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, is now aiming to transform itself into a premier holiday destination.
Despite the international community's extensive sanctions due to its support and financing of various Middle Eastern terrorist networks, the Islamic regime is striving to break into the tourism industry. This ambition is driven by the hope of attracting millions of tourists annually, despite its reputation for oppressive rule and one of the world's weakest economies.
According to the Daily Caller, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, emphasized the importance of tourism for Iran's cultural diplomacy during a recent event. He stated, "Tourism is the greatest asset for Irans cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy fosters relations between nations, shared understanding, and collective peace and stability." He further argued that cultural heritage and tourism should be among the country's top three priorities, with the aim of replacing oil revenues with tourism as a primary economic driver.
Salehi-Amiri outlined an ambitious goal of attracting 15 million tourists to Iran by 2028, which would necessitate the construction of hundreds of new hotels. He asserted, "Cultural heritage is Irans soft power. Just as we need hard power for deterrence, we need soft power to showcase our cultural and civilizational capacities to the world." His comments, however, raise several practical questions.
The feasibility of building hundreds of new hotels within such a short timeframe is questionable, given Iran's annual GDP is only a fraction of other Arab states in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom categorizes Iran's economy as "repressed," citing rampant government corruption, weak rule of law, and a lack of substantial trade relations with virtually any Western nation.
Moreover, concerns arise regarding the treatment of potential tourists, considering Iran's well-documented hostility towards the West and numerous reports of human rights abuses, particularly against women. These abuses often go unpunished due to corruption permeating Iran's government and law enforcement structure.
The Iranian regime also funnels significant funds to its various terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The country's primary export, oil, generates revenue for the regime to support its regional actors. Under the former Trump administration's "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against Iran, Iranian oil revenues plummeted. However, under the more lenient foreign policy and eased sanctions of the Biden-Harris administration, Iran has seen a substantial increase in revenues.
While Iran's tourism ambitions may seem audacious given its current economic and political landscape, the regime's determination to diversify its economy and enhance its international standing is clear. However, the practicality of these plans and their potential implications for the international community remain to be seen.
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