Paul Nelson: Security is key to Iran’s tourism industry

London, Nov 8, IRNA - Paul Nelson, public relations & press manager to World Travel Market, said on Tuesday that Iran’s security is key to the tourism industry. Paul Nelson: Security is key to Iran’s tourism industry Q. What can you make of Iranian Exhibitors in this year’s WTM exhibition? A. We have seen a very good presence of Iranian Exhibitors; It is now the third year that it has been the case and we have had a significant collection of both Iranian private and public sector. UNWTO predicts that there will be 1.8 billion tourist trips by 2020 around the world which is currently around 1.1 billion and a lot of that growth is going to come from new and emerging destination such as Iran. I think Iran tourist industry will benefit from almost double in number of tourist or trips in the next four to five years. Q. What has been the effect of lifting sanction against Iran? A. I think lifting of sanctions is a great green light. Everyone has to be prepared and understand that it is a long process. Sanctions are lifted but conversations now need to take place in events like World Travel Market; It might take 2-3 years for those conversations to lead to business deals. There are two conversations for Iran. One is the infrastructure which will be taking place there and the followed by that is getting the tours in. You hear the sanctions are lifted and there can be a level of impatience in a sense that you expect it to happen almost straight away. But there needs to be a level of realism that there are needs to build infrastructure, there are needs to invest in marketing and Public Relations. But, things are on the right direction. Q. Are Holiday makers and western businesses ready to deal with Iran? A. From holiday makers perspective, I think there will be a significant minority of people who are looking to travel to new destinations and new places to go. They want to experience Iran as it is now At the same time for volume, it is a drip feed effect: You get those earlier tourists coming first, they talk positively about the country, you increase your marketing and more people will come. I think there is an appetite there and that appetite will grow by the time. Q. Iran is a safe country in the region, despite of Terrorists activities in the neighboring countries, how much this factor matters to holiday makers? A. No one can deny the impact that terrorism will have and of course it has led to a split from destinations. So if you look at the traditional UK summer holiday markets, which we had Spain, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, this has changed. I went to Turkey this year and it was empty, because of that fear that people have. So if you are seen as a safe destination then you really can benefit. Because you cannot hide from the fact that terrorism is a global problem and a problem that the tourism industry will continually have to face and must battle. Q. So does this matter came to light for western tourists that there has been no terrorist activities in Iran? A. If I was doing Public Relations for Iran that would be something I might particularly push for. That would be something that should be at the centre of the marketing and PR to get that message over so people understands. Q. What do you think about US legislation for people who travel to Iran and then they will be having problem to go to the US? A. It is not good. It is a problem and is not a good one. One country cannot set terms to citizens of another country to say that because you’ve been there we are not going to let you in. This is something that needs to overcome. US is aiming for hundred of million tourist by 2020, so what you don’t want is hundred of million people who are potentially barred because of travel to Iran. 1378/IRNA