According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Ali Hasanlou, at the ceremony commemorating World Tourism Day, emphasizing the role of tourism in the livelihood of the island's residents, said: Tourism in Kish is not a side activity or an extracurricular; it is the lifeblood and main artery of the island's economy. This sector is highly affected by external variables, and its return to prosperity requires time, patience, and the synergy of all components. Referring to last year's experience, he added: Last year at this time, with effective cooperation from the private sector we witnessed a historic record in hotel occupancy rates. Although conditions were different this year, under the leadership and emphasis of Mohammad Kabiri, the organization's CEO, we set a goal to redefine the conditions for the return of tourism flow to the island by strengthening the sense of security, calm, and hope.
"Kish 05" Festival; Continuation of Service Delivery Relying on the Private Sector
Hasanlou, referring to the holding of the Kish 05 festival with the slogan "Travel, its origin is Kish," said: One of our first priorities after months of uncertainty was to return Kish to the path of service delivery and keep tourism facilities active. In circumstances where expecting an early boom did not seem reasonable, the steadfastness and risk-taking of hoteliers, club owners, merchants, and recreational and hospitality centers kept the lights of service delivery on the island. This professional solidarity deserves the highest praise. The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization also considered using the capacity of the media, cyberspace, and new narration methods of daily life on the island an effective action and said: These actions were carried out with the aim of correcting the public's mental image, introducing capacities, and presenting a real picture of the prevailing calm over the Pearl of the Persian Gulf.
Stabilizing Flight Capacity and Facilitating Air Access with the Support of the Organization's Senior Management
Hasanlou called air transport the main artery of Kish tourism and said: At the start of events we faced serious flight limitations, but with continuous follow-ups and intense negotiations by the organization's CEO in the capital, the importance of this issue was explained at the national level so that flights would be strengthened as the island's communication artery. Hasanlou continued: Despite unforeseen challenges such as the temporary suspension of MD fleet flights in the final week, the measures taken have brought the island's flight situation to normal and stable conditions. Mehrabad Airport is also ready to increase its flight capacity in line with rising demand in autumn.
Moving Toward Smart Tourism and Developing Complementary Economies
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization, in another part of his remarks, considered World Tourism Day an opportunity to review Kish's economic structures and emphasized: Past crises have shown that Kish's economy should not remain mono-sectoral. For this reason, planning to form complementary and supporting economies is on the agenda so that, while reducing pressure on the tourism industry, the island's resilience will also increase. He deemed aligning with the World Tourism Organization's annual slogan and using artificial intelligence necessary and added: Developing smart tourism and employing modern tools play a central role in improving service quality, creating new experiences for travelers, and preserving Kish's competitive advantage compared to other regional destinations. Hasanlou concluded by appreciating the around-the-clock efforts of the organization's CEO and the responsible participation of trade associations and expressed hope that with the continuation of this convergence, the coming months in autumn will mark the beginning of a fruitful season for Kish Island's economy and tourism.