The Fifth Meeting of Ministers and Officials of Tourism Industry in Middle East was an opportunity for Iran to promote its ideas of strenghtening tourism ties among Islamic countries. The proposal was put forward by head of Iran`s delegation from Organization of the Islamic Conference Member States, Mohammad Sharif Malekzadeh.

As he told in Iran News Agency, Iran`s proposals, which are aimed at further boosting and broadening tourism cooperation among Islamic countries, were welcomed by the participants.

He listed Iran`s proposals as formation of a national committee to promote tourism industry among youths in Islamic states, organizing training and research workshops, arranging the first festival of foods of Islamic countries in Iran`s Kish Island, setting up data banks on tourism industry to provide all Islamic countries with required information in the sector, creating jobs for unemployed in the sector, seeking conformity and convergence among Islamic youths, promoting managerial network, forming a special committee to follow up already agreements reached by parties involved and focusing on promotion of human resources.

He also referred to presentation of suitable marketing plans to preserve Islamic and collective values, promotion of culture of hospitality among Islamic countries and creation of suitable grounds for the private sectors to play a much more active role in the sector.

Holding such international gatherings could leave positive impacts on existing capabilities of tourism sectors in Islamic countries, he said.

Iran with over 1.2 million known historical sites is among the most successful countries from the point of cultural heritage in the world, he pointed out.