MNA – The Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili arrived in Hamedan on Sunday to attend the 40th UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session.







This is Pololikashvili’s first visit to Iran. Earlier on Sunday, he had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the head of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Ali Asghar Mounesan.

Titled as ‘International Seminar on Harnessing Cultural Tourism through Innovation and Technology’, the three-day event will kick off tomorrow in Hamedan.

According to UNWTO official website, the main aim of the international seminar is to address the role of innovation and technology in the development of cultural tourism and in enhancing destinations’ competitiveness and attractiveness. Technology and innovation, including information and communication technology (ICT), serve as enablers of the sustainable development of cultural tourism whereby improving governance, enhancing profitability, and competitiveness along with preserving intangible and tangible cultural resources.

In this regard, the seminar will provide a platform to further discuss these important topics through panel debates and the sharing of good practices. Additionally, it will explore the fundamental contribution of innovation to fostering cultural tourism in Iran – a country endowed with rich cultural heritage and legacy of the remarkable Persian civilization.