According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, the ceremony commemorating World Tourism Day was held on Sunday, 27 September 2026, with the presence of Mohammad Kabiri, CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Sheikh Ya'qub Shams, Sunni Friday Prayer Leader of Kish, deputies and directors of the Kish Free Zone Organization, heads of trade communities, tourism activists and a number of Kish residents in the Persian Gulf Hall of the Kish International Convention Center.
In this ceremony, Mohammad Kabiri, while congratulating World Tourism Day, thanked the efforts and cooperation of economic activists, the private sector, trade communities and all those involved in the tourism sector and said: Over the past nine months, activists in this field, with perseverance, effort and maintaining hope, have played an important role in continuing economic activities and keeping the lights of Kish tourism on. He, commemorating the martyrs who defended the homeland, added: Those who sacrificed their lives to preserve dear Iran have an enduring place in the country’s history, and alongside this sacrifice, the efforts of those who have used their ability and credit to preserve the economy, businesses and national assets are also valuable and worthy of appreciation. The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to the private sector’s efforts to maintain the vitality of the island’s tourism economy, stated: Managers at local and national levels must stand alongside these groups and, by using legal capacities, pursue support for businesses and strengthening the resilience of the tourism economy. Kabiri noted: In meetings and sessions held in Tehran in recent weeks, the efforts and cooperation of Kish’s economic and tourism activists have been explained to national managers so that the issues and needs of this sector receive more serious attention at the country’s decision-making levels.
Support for economic actors and follow-up on national resolutions
Referring to actions taken to support economic actors, Kabiri said: The government issued resolutions in mid-September for the southern provinces, and instructions have also been issued in customs, tax and banking areas by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank. He added: The effectiveness of these decisions will become tangible for economic actors when the issued instructions are implemented at various levels and their results become apparent in improving business conditions and the satisfaction of economic actors. The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, appreciating the managers who have accompanied the private sector during this period, emphasized: It is expected that the issued instructions in customs, tax and banking areas be implemented seriously so that grounds for reassurance and more effective support for economic actors, especially in the tourism sector, are provided.
Kabiri also emphasized implementing these decisions and said: The Kish Free Zone Organization has also tried to use all its capacities and legal authorities to support economic activities, facilitate matters and strengthen business sustainability.
Quality-orientation, artificial intelligence and sustainable tourism
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to global trends in the tourism industry, stated: In 2025 more than one and a half billion international trips were made worldwide and after passing the COVID-19 period the tourism industry has once again consolidated its development trend. Referring to the significant share of tourism in the global economy and employment, he added: International experiences show that an increase in the number of tourists alone is not a measure of a destination’s success; rather the quality of tourists’ presence and the added value created for the destination, local economy and host community are of greater importance. Kabiri considered the use of artificial intelligence and the digital economy among the other necessities of future tourism and said: Destinations that can adopt new technologies sooner and more effectively to introduce capacities, facilitate access and communicate with tourists will have a better chance of successful presence in competition among tourism destinations. He described sustainable and smart tourism as other important axes of developing this industry and added: The fair distribution of tourism’s added value among economic actors, the local community, indigenous people and other stakeholders should be considered so that all sectors benefit from tourism development and act coherently and consistently in attracting tourists. The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: In future planning quality must be considered alongside quantity, the link between tourism and artificial intelligence and the digital economy should be strengthened, and the development of this industry must be accompanied by attention to the environment, the island’s surrounding capacities and the interests of Kish’s natives.
Strengthening flights and continuous follow-up to facilitate flight conditions
Referring to the increase in flights to the island in recent weeks, Kabiri said: Kish’s flight activity started from about four flights and then had an increasing trend. A trend that is the result of the efforts and cooperation of various sectors to strengthen the island’s tourism. He continued: There may be ups and downs along this path, but what matters is the continuity of effort, maintaining hope and continuous follow-up to facilitate conditions and provide the ground for more tourists to visit Kish. The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to the role of cyberspace in introducing the destination, said: Reflecting the island’s capacities and narrating Kish’s current days can reinforce a positive image of the island in the minds of compatriots, increase the sense of safety for travel and provide grounds for choosing Kish more often as a tourist destination. He added: Recent weeks’ experience has shown that a correct and hopeful narrative of the island’s capacities, alongside executive actions, can play an effective role in strengthening tourism and also provide an opportunity to convey real issues and demands of Kish’s economic actors to managers and decision-makers.
Kabiri concluded, emphasizing continued support for economic and tourism actors: Those who with their capital, credit and ability have strived to preserve Kish’s vitality and the economy of the country’s south deserve support and accompaniment, and the Kish Free Zone Organization will also, by using existing capacities, seriously continue the path of supporting businesses, strengthening the tourism economy and elevating Kish’s position.