According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Alireza Tabesh opened his remarks at the inauguration of the second Symposium on the Tourism Market of the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) with a narration of a Saadi Golestan anecdote about a merchant on Kish Island, and regarded this account as an indication of the island's historical position in commercial connections and travel between different lands.
Referring to the story of the Kish merchant in the third chapter of Saadi's Golestan, he said: Although this tale is narrated with the theme of contentment, it presents an image of the breadth of commercial relations and links between lands in past times and recalls Kish's historical role in regional and transregional exchanges.
Tabesh, emphasizing the historical and cultural commonalities of ECO member countries, added: The countries of the region, possessing a shared civilizational heritage and diverse tourist attractions, can, instead of mere competition to attract tourists, cooperate in designing joint tourism products and routes and benefit from the economic advantages.
In explaining this approach he referred to the tourism capacities of the Silk Road route and said: By linking cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, the historical and cultural attractions of Tajikistan, and Shiraz as the city of Saadi and Hafez, a shared experience beyond the borders of a single country can be designed for tourists.
The CEO of the Social Security Tourism Holding stated that realizing such programs requires coordination in transport, facilitation of travel, joint marketing and private sector participation, and emphasized: The development of regional tourism cooperation should be based on understanding target markets, designing joint products and creating real investment opportunities.
Referring to the geographical position and infrastructural capacities of Kish Island, he stated: This island can become one of the important centers of regional tourism cooperation and, by taking advantage of investment opportunities, play an effective role in expanding Iran's economic and cultural interactions with neighboring countries.
Tabesh also referred to the arrival of 20 Aban, Kish Day, calling this occasion an opportunity to revisit the island's historical and maritime identity and added: Kish should be seen beyond a tourism destination and its capacities should be used to develop cultural dialogues, economic cooperation and regional connections.
Emphasizing the necessity of achieving tangible results from holding the symposium, he said: It is expected that the outcomes of this event will not be limited to presenting capacities and signing memoranda of understanding, but will lead to defining several specific and measurable programs, designing joint tourism routes and forming practical collaborations among companies and investors of ECO member countries.
The CEO of Hegta concluded by expressing hope that Kish Island, by making use of its historical background and today's capacities, will once again play a role in linking lands and cultures and this time become a platform for expanding regional tourism and economic cooperation.