According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, the press conference of the Kish 05 Festival was held on 16 August 2026 in the Razi Hall of the Kish International Conference Center, with the presence of Ali Hasanlou, Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization, directors of this deputy, representatives of communities and activists in the tourism sector and a number of media activists.
In this meeting, the approaches and programs of the Kish 05 Festival and the island's tourism sector measures in the field of events, advertising and content production, marketing at travel origins, development of land trips, maritime access, private sector participation, training and standardization of tourism services, accommodation capacities, beach development and tourism investment policies were explained.
Ali Hasanlou, referring to planning for different types of tourism in Kish, said: Tourism activities are not limited to one sector and commercial, cultural, educational and event-driven tourism are pursued simultaneously. In the first months, some events will also be held with the aim of strengthening the island's dynamism, and subsequently, other diverse programs appropriate to the execution schedule will be placed in the tourism calendar.
He added: The scope of these programs ranges from musical events and specialized meetings to micro-events held in various complexes and larger events with the participation of the organization and the private sector. Holding quality events requires proper design and planning, and each program will be announced according to its execution time.
Hasanlou also announced follow-up on musical programs for September and emphasized that the island's event programs will be introduced gradually and in accordance with the execution calendar.
Using the Capacity of Kish Activists in Advertising
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to advertising and content production programs, said: Utilizing the capacity of the island's content creators is one of the axes of attention in advertising programs, and the approach is that activists in this field have a more prominent role in introducing the festival and Kish's tourism capacities.
He emphasized that advertising for a destination like Kish is a continuous and sustainable activity, and added: It has been proposed to form a working group composed of advertising and content production activists within the institute so that specialists in this field reach a consensus on the activity model, content production, publication methods and advertising priorities.
Hasanlou continued: Such a structure can operate with greater agility and creativity and the organization will also use the professional views and suggestions of this group. The main part of content production can be carried out relying on the capacity of activists within the island and many of these activists also have platforms for content distribution.
He added: In areas where market development and access to a wider audience outside the island are considered, the publication program will follow the target market and the proposals of specialized activists in this field can form the basis for targeted planning and advertising expenditure.
Completing the Campaign with Private Sector Participation
Hasanlou, referring to the process of designing the tourism campaign, said: This campaign was reviewed and completed in several stages in the course of receiving various views and interacting with tourism activists to reach its current version.
He added: In drafting the programs, besides the capacity of activists inside the island, the views of agencies and large private sector entities in Tehran and other origins were used and direct communication with tourism activists continued throughout this path.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to an integrated view of the Kish brand, said: The tourist's experience from the hotel, recreational centers, services, markets and other parts of the island is ultimately registered under the name "Kish" and therefore, the cooperation of all components of the destination in enhancing the traveler's experience is important.
He stressed the continuation of meetings and interaction with associations, guilds and private sector activists and welcomed the development of more regular communication with media activists so that their views and suggestions can be received in shorter intervals.
Following Suggestions within Legal Processes
Hasanlou, referring to the decision-making mechanism in public entities, said: Proposals and requests raised in various fields are pursued by going through the relevant legal and judicial processes so that decisions are implemented within the framework of regulations and with the necessary legal backing.
He emphasized: The cooperation of the private sector and receiving proposals from economic and tourism activists are always considered and various matters are pursued in accordance with their executive and legal requirements.
Marketing at Origin and Developing Land Trips
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization described the development of land trips as another axis of Kish tourism planning and said: In provinces and cities that have suitable capacity to attract land tourists to the island, meetings have been held with active agencies in those origins and marketing programs at origin have been put on the agenda.
He added: It is planned that with the cooperation of the private sector, Kish travel capacities and packages will be introduced directly to agencies in target provinces and these entities' capacities will be used to develop the travel market to the island.
Hasanlou announced incentives for land tours and said: For agencies that direct tourists to Kish with VIP buses in September, supports have been considered and the executive details will be announced through agencies and relevant origins.
Referring to the status of group travel in the tourism industry, he added: Group travel is welcomed in various countries and even in expensive tourist destinations, and in this type of travel, the route and group companionship are part of the tourist's experience. Using VIP buses is also intended to provide a more comfortable and desirable trip for tourists.
Completing the Chain of Access to the Island
Hasanlou, referring to the capacities of Chark and Aftab ports, said: In recent years part of the development of these ports' infrastructure has been carried out with the cost and participation of the Kish Free Zone Organization and follow-up for fleet renewal and upgrading the chain of access to the island continues with the cooperation of related entities.
He added: Developing any passenger route, whether maritime, land or other modes of transportation, requires completing a set of related infrastructures and services and the goal is that all links of travel form according to the level and standard expected by Kish tourists.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: Completing this chain is pursued with cooperation from relevant agencies and entities so that tourists' access routes to the island develop with appropriate quality.
Strengthening Cash Flow and the Island's Economic Capacities
Hasanlou, referring to the central role of tourism in Kish's economy, said: Increasing tourist presence and the cash flow resulting from travel directly affect the activities of various economic sectors of the island and strengthening this flow provides the grounds for greater prosperity of the private sector and active entities in Kish.
He added: Alongside tourism development, creating complementary economic capacities is also considered and one of the goals of forming the Kish Institute for Sustainable Development and Prosperity is to create an agile structure for implementing certain projects, managing financial processes and providing the resources needed for prosperity programs.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization noted: This structure can, with private sector participation, support programs such as tourism incentives, festival prizes and other actions related to the island's prosperity.
Participation of Economic Activists in Kish's Prosperity
Hasanlou, referring to private sector participation in festival programs, said: Various entities, from stallholders and market activists to brands, large tourism complexes and active island associations, have participated in areas such as providing prizes, offering discounts, services and other festival programs.
He invited investors and activists in the residential construction sector to have a more active presence in prosperity programs and added: All entities that benefit from Kish's economic boom can, according to their capacity, play a role in creating and strengthening this boom.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: Participation in advertising, attracting tourists and supplying festival prizes is an investment in the island's economic cycle and increasing tourist presence and the resulting cash flow returns its benefits to various parts of Kish's economy.
He added: With the activity of the Kish Institute for Sustainable Development and Prosperity, direct private sector participation in areas such as providing prizes and advertising programs has also become possible.
Hasanlou, about the structure of the festival prizes, said: Alongside the main prize, a set of diverse prizes for different groups, including the new generation and families, has been predicted and commodity prizes such as home appliances are also included in this basket.
Referring to the experience of the previous festival, he added: In the previous period, in addition to the main one-billion-toman prize, several one-hundred-million-toman prizes and smaller prizes were considered and in the new festival, alongside advertising focus on the main prize, a diverse basket of prizes for a larger number of tourists has been predicted.
Training and Improving Quality of Tourism Services
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization called human resources training one of the axes of improving tourists' experience and said: Since last year, training courses for various groups active on the island, from taxi drivers to staff and activists of tourism complexes, have been held focusing on behavior and communication with tourists, and this trend will continue.
He added: Moving toward a quality tourism destination is a continuous process and all pillars of the destination must strive to provide the highest achievable level of standards.
Hasanlou, referring to plans to create a centralized training center on the island, said: Given the high capacity of human resources active in Kish's tourism industry, establishing a specialized training complex has been put on the agenda and since last year negotiations for creating a hotel school have been conducted.
He expressed hope that this complex will begin its activities this year and added: With the establishment of the hotel school, it will be possible to hold specialized courses and receive training certificates on the island itself and the ground will be prepared for expanding professional trainings in various tourism sectors.
Organizing Diverse Accommodation Capacities
Hasanlou, referring to the variety of accommodation methods in tourist destinations, said: Staying in residential units and homes exists in many tourist destinations around the world and some tourists choose this method depending on the type of trip, length of stay or their conditions.
He added: Alongside hotels, organizing this capacity is being pursued so that different groups of tourists can use diverse accommodation options in Kish according to the type of their trip.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization also referred to the capacity of the island's hotels and said: Active hotels in Kish in various groups from three-star to five-star provide choices suitable to tourists' needs and budgets and the active accommodation capacity of the island is available to host travelers.
Standardizing Tourism and Catering Centers
Hasanlou, referring to quality improvement programs for services, said: The plan to standardize and grade tourism and catering centers is on the agenda and monitoring service quality is pursued with the participation of the tourism community and the professional community of catering centers.
He added: Providing conditions for long-term planning and investment for operators can pave the way for reconstruction, improvement and further enhancement of services and related follow-ups continue with the same goal.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: Developing investment in service quality and raising the standards of tourism complexes is an important part of strengthening the travel experience to Kish.
Developing Beaches with a Tourism Perspective
Hasanlou, referring to the importance of beaches in the travel experience to Kish, said: Improving known coastal points, especially sections that have a special place for tourists and Kish residents, is among the pursued topics.
He added: For some sections of the beaches, improvement and upgrade programs have been predicted and new tourism plans are being defined for other coastal areas so that Kish's beach capacities play a greater role in diversifying tourists' experiences.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: When tourism is the main axis of the island's development, using land and coastal capacities must also be done with a tourism perspective and every new project should add value and a fresh experience to the destination.
Priority to Distinctive Tourism Investments
Hasanlou, referring to the presence of the Tourism Deputy in the process of reviewing investment proposals, said: By order of Mohammad Kabiri, CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, the Tourism Deputy is also present in the related economic commission for land allocation and investment projects so that tourism technical considerations are taken into account alongside other economic aspects of the projects.
He added: In areas where it is possible to provide land or incentive packages, priority is given to projects that create a new capacity and real added value for the island.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization stressed: Creating a resort, hotel or tourism complex that itself becomes a destination and creates a new motivation to travel to Kish is among the projects that can help diversify the island's tourism product.
He emphasized: The uniqueness and distinctiveness of new investments and adding a fresh experience to Kish's tourism are criteria of interest when reviewing new projects.
Details of the First Season of Kish 05 Festival
After the end of the press conference and in an interview with the media, Ali Hasanlou explained more details about the Kish 05 Festival programs and the direct incentives predicted for tourists.
He said on the sidelines of this meeting: This year's festival is not limited to summer and will continue; September, October and November are considered the first season or the first episode of the festival and for this period, a set of events, prizes and travel incentives have been predicted.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization added: Festival events will be announced gradually and according to the execution time of each program and for different months, a different combination of events, prizes and facilities has been considered to create a diverse experience for tourists.
50 Million Toman Facilities for Tourists
Hasanlou, continuing his interview on the sidelines of the meeting, announced the provision of 50 million toman facilities to tourists and said: Upon arrival to the island, travelers can, without the need for a guarantor and through an online process, activate this credit with a few simple steps and use it for their travel expenses in Kish.
He added: Access to this service will be provided through a gateway that will be announced, including at the airport and shopping centers. The amount of 50 million tomans relates to the first phase of the plan and in the coming months, facilities, prizes and incentives appropriate to the festival programs will also be considered.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization explained: Each family member can activate this credit separately and families will be able to use their combined credits to purchase travel packages and manage the costs of their presence on the island.
Weekly Prize of a One-Kilogram Silver Bar
Hasanlou, regarding the main prize of the festival's first season, said: Each week a one-kilogram silver bar will be awarded by lottery to one of the tourists and alongside that, a set of smaller and commodity prizes will be awarded to tourists during events and raffle ceremonies.
He added: Tourists who enter the island and carry out transactions related to the festival mechanism will be included in the lottery process and in addition to the main prize, other diverse prizes are predicted for tourists present in the festival programs.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization noted: With increased private sector participation, the festival prize basket can also be expanded and diversified.
Travel Packages; An Economic Option for Kish
Hasanlou, referring to the importance of managing travel costs for tourists, said: Kish tour packages can often be an economical option for travel because round-trip tickets and accommodation are offered as a travel package.
He added: In some cases, the cost of a multi-day Kish tour is comparable to the separate purchase price of round-trip tickets and Kish travel packages can compete with many domestic travel packages and even some foreign destinations.
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization recommended that tourists check tour options before purchasing travel services separately and added: The predicted 50 million toman facilities can also be used within the announced framework to buy travel packages and manage the costs of being on the island.
He also announced follow-up on increasing flights and seat capacity on routes leading to Kish and said: Increasing flight capacity and activating new origins can provide more access for tourists to the island and part of this program is pursued using the capacity of Kish Airline.
Hasanlou added: Flight prices from some origins other than Tehran to Kish are also favorable and developing flight origins can offer more diverse options to tourists.
Kish's Readiness to Host Tourists
The Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization continued his interview on the sidelines of the meeting and announced: Tourism and recreational centers as well as complexes active in water and marine amusements needed by tourists will be active from the beginning of September and the island is ready to properly host travelers.
He emphasized private sector participation in holding the festival and added: Financing and implementing the festival will be done with the participation of the Kish Free Zone Organization and the private sector and guilds and tourism activists are present in areas such as prizes, facilities, discounts and other incentives.
Hasanlou invited other economic pillars of the island to participate in this path and said: Tourism boom shows its effects in all economic sectors of Kish and from tourism and commercial activists to residential investors, everyone can play a role in creating this boom according to their capacity.
In closing, the Deputy of Tourism of the Kish Free Zone Organization invited compatriots to travel to the island and said: Kish is ready to host tourists and efforts have been made to provide appropriate conditions for travel and a desirable experience for the island's guests with a set of events, facilities, prizes and diverse incentives.
He expressed hope that with the participation of the organization, the private sector and island activists, the first season of the "Kish 05" festival with the slogan "Travel; Its Origin Is Kish" in September, October and November will provide grounds for increasing travel and sustaining Kish's tourism boom.