Pioneers of Peace Through Tourism in US and Iran enter landmark partnership

Tehran, Iran (September 18, 2008): The International Committee of Tourism Partners was founded in cooperation with Iran’s non-governmental tourism sector under the management of Mr.

Tehran, Iran (September 18, 2008): The International Committee of Tourism Partners was founded in cooperation with Iran’s non-governmental tourism sector under the management of Mr. Hamid reza Talebi. The partnership between eTurboNews publisher Thomas Steinmetz and Mr. Talebi is aiming to serve as the catalyst for opening joint tourism projects between Iran and the USA.
 
The partnership’s first project called Permanent Peace Stead (PPS) provides a platform for Iranian investors the ability to pursue investment interests aboard. Talebi said, “In this important project, Iranian investors can take advantage of PPS services, as it is the best way to build ties with the US tourism industry under Islamic Republic of.Iran law.”
 
Mrs. Lida Nagafi, secretary of International Committee of Tourism Partners, will be acting as the liaison between investors in other countries that invite them. She has been tasked to oversee the implementation of this important plan and report its development directly to Mr. Steinmetz and Mr. Talebi .
 
On behalf of the International Committee of Tourism Partners, Mr. Talebi has drafted a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Mehdi Jahangiri, Deputy of Investment & Plan for Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) for the development of various tourism initiatives and projects. According to Mr. Talebi, Mehdi Jahangiri has confirmed that the ICHTO has allotted US$40 billion for the implementation of various tourism projects in Iran.
 
Founder Talebi, who is also eTurboNews’ Iran, said in Teheran: “Tourism is a good way for international understanding. We have a great interest of the Iranian Tourism Industry to cooperate with and become friends with the Industry in the United States. We are not a political organization, but we are open to help to facilitate tourism, investment projects within the Tourism Industry between our two countries.”
 
The partnership has been 30 years in the making, and Mr. Talebi is extremely proud that it is finally coming to fruition. He said, “All tourism investors in Iran and the US have been waiting for 30 years for this.”
 
That excitement is shared by Mr. Steinmetz. He said: “I am excited to be part of this grassroots movement. I was always a believer of ‘Peace Through Tourism’ and with being in contact with so many industry professionals around the globe as a publisher of eTN, this is a great way to set our mark on a peace movement build on mutual understanding through tourism.”
 
According to him, he discussed this idea with Mr. Talebi in Iran in 2002 when attending a tourism and cultural conference. “Mr. Talebi went out of his way over the years to spearhead the strengthening of tourism ties between the US and Iran. He is proof that a private citizen can do to bring two countries together through tourism.”
 
Mr. Talebi, never tiring of promoting Iran’s “peace through tourism” message, is slated to attend the upcoming International Institute for Peace through Tourism, which wiil be held in The Netherlands from October 21-24, 2008. For more information on IIPT and to attend this conference visit ( www.iipt.org )

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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