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Norooz, the celebration of the first day of the Persian year, which has been taking pride in itself over all other festivities, is not an artificial social contract nor is it an imposed political one. It is the jubilation of a nation and also that of the earth, the sky and the sun. It is the “Beginning” day.

Norooz awakens the people simultaneously with the awakening of the nature. People come out of their homes in the course of this memorable festivity and relinquish themselves in the nature’s lap and in its fragrant environment. Once more they begin to feel life with all of their existence alongside the tender spring rain, the sweet-smelling pennyroyal and the refreshing smell of the soil and the new blooms.

Norooz is the reminiscing of the big memory; the memory of the solidarity of man with nature. Norooz is a reason for the survival of the Iranians since it is itself the beginning of life. It conveys the joy and the secret of living to the humans with its coming.

Norooz means a news day, a new they means the experience of a new life and this life, for the Iranian people is the day of growth and of flourishing.

Norooz has been experienced not only under pleasant but also under most unpleasant conditions by our people. At the time when Alexander was setting the Persepolis afire and Genghish and Tamerlane were putting the people of Khorassan to their swords, and during the entire pages of this nations’ history, Norooz was besides and for us and as an undeniable institution to be cherished. And even at the time when the agents of the caliphs were hanging Hassan Jouri and his followers, people were celebrating the Norooz with all their existence in the ruddy fire temples and on top of the mosques’ minarahs.

Norooz both in the distant and near past has been a celebration of a commendable nature. It is not a celebration of oblivion and of unawareness. It is a firm expression of existence and survival. It is a demonstration of endurance and the connection of the past to the present and their continuity.

Norooz has been always dear in the eyes of the Iranians: in the eyes of the high priests of the Zoroastrians, in the eyes of the Muslims, in the eyes of the Shiahs and the eyes of all those who regard this institution as their own.

Norooz is the first day of they creation. It is the day in which Ahouramazda began to create the world. It is for this reason that the first day of the Persian month of Farvardin (March21) has been called “Hourmazd”.

What a beautiful legend, more beautiful than reality! That day-the first they of the first month of the first season (spring) of the year-has been the day of growing of the grass and the blossoming both of the plants and the humans.

Let’s set alight a new the Ahura fire on this day and demonstrate the existence of history with that of our own. By participating in Norooz festivities we display our existence as a nation in the storm of times and of changes.

Iran’s 2^nd international conference on investment opportunities in Iran’s tourism industry;

The 2nd international conference on investment opportunities in Iran’s tourism industry was held at the conference hall of the 435-meter tall Milad Tower in Tehran during November 8-9.

The event showcased $50 billion worth of investment opportunities in Iran’s tourism industry, including more than 2,049 investment packages at a national and international level.

Some 500 investors from 58 world countries including U.S., UK, Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, UAE, Kuwait, Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia, Bahrain, Ukraine, Armenia, Argentina, Philippine, Czech Republic, Ireland, Iraq, Canada, Greece, Georgia, Dominican, and South Korea as well as 20 high-ranking delegations along with senior officials from World Tourism Organization took part in the event.

Domestic investors also participated in the two-day conference. Public and private banks including Bank Parsian, Bank Keshavarzi, Bank Pasargad, Bank Melli, and …, Ariana Tourist Pasargad Company, Middle East Goo-Almas Company, Spinas Hotel, and … were among these domestic investors.

In the side lines of the conference handicrafts producers from different provinces put their products on display.

During the conference high ranking officials such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, The United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Deputy Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, The Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, The Central Bank of Iran Governor Mahmoud Bahmani delivered speeches.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the second international conference on investment opportunities in Iran’s tourism that “Iran’s arms are open to support investors in tourism.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, which is the harbinger of progress, peace, and security for all nations, seriously supports investment in tourism industry and welcomes tourists and tourist activities”.

“Not only is tourism an industry, but also it is an economic and trade job and very influential factor in politics and providing durable security”.

Underlining the importance of tourism in the current global arena, he called for removal of the obstacles in the way of Iran tourism industry.

The president further noted Iran’s desire to promote tourism and discussed the wider benefits that travel can bring, “Besides the financial revenue stemming from the industry, tourism can fundamentally change the perspective of humankind from a tribal to a global view and expands the horizons of human’s views.”

While emphasizing that the tourism industry should be supported economically and culturally, he referred to the tourism as a valuable, essential, and creative cultural industry.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Deputy Secretary-General Taleb Rifai addressed the conference that investors prefer to put their money in a country like Iran that enjoys various beautiful natural resources.

“Iran’s government has shown great attention to the tourism industry’s development and it looks promising for the international investors to see that a government fully supports investment in this sector,” he said.

“Nowadays the whole world suffers from the economic crisis, but the tourism industry hasn't been affected yet. The statistics indicate that in 2007 the international tourism income reached $856 billion showing %5.6 increases in comparison to the 2006’s figure,” Rifai explained.

“World economy is facing its worst crisis since World War II and UNWTO has prepared itself to face tougher days. But we have learned by experience that the need to travel is not something that can be ignored in the post-industrial societies so it is believed that the tourism industry is less vulnerable compared to the other economic sectors,” he concluded.

Iran safe for tourism industry investment: Shahroudi

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the second conference of tourism investment opportunities, Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi said that Iran fully adheres to the rights of investors in the tourism sector.

“Iran spares no efforts to make this business secure nationwide,” he explained.

“We guarantee all rights pertaining to security of domestic and foreign investors in the tourism sector,” Ayatollah Shahroudi told over 500 foreign investors at the gathering.

“Since there is very good interaction between the government and the judiciary, all legal and judiciary requirements have been met to make business secure in Iran,” he added.

Iran’s Judiciary Chief went on to note that tourism activities will lead to economic development and increase employment rate remarkably.

“In the past three years the government has been involved in many activities to promote the business,” he said, adding that it is among the duties of the judiciary to provide a secure atmosphere for domestic and foreign investors, he concluded.

Referring to Iran’s great tourism potentials, Ayatollah Shahroudi said, “Iran is provided with great tourist attractions and cultural heritage. Not many countries have the vast and various natural resources as ours. Some of these resources are still virgin and by injecting capital we can flourish these hidden potentials and make them ready for the use of Iranians and foreign tourists.”

The Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei said that tourism industry can play an undeniable role in developing peace and world’s security.

“We have falsely been introduced as an insecure country to the world and it’s our duty to show that this is not true. Iran has played an important role in the world’s history. We don’t need to exaggerate, it’s sufficient to publicize our real capacities,” he said.

“Iran’s government plans to spend about $5 billion in the tourism industry in order to empower this sector, but the nation’s tourism industry needs approximately $30 billion investments and the private sector should provide the remaining $25 billion,” Rahim Mashaei explained.

“During the past two years great capitals have been invested in Iran’s tourism industry and we believe that in ten years this figure will go beyond current expectations,” he added.

He went on to note that in his idea UNESCO will have to take on the administration of tourism affairs in future.

“Tourism is today and tomorrow’s inevitable industry and we all will have our own part in this industry,” CHTHO director concluded.

The Central Bank of Iran Governor Mahmoud Bahmani pointed out that in the future Iran can gradually lower its dependence to the oil industry and meet its needs through the Tourism industry.

"Nowadays many countries are dependent on their tourism industry income," he said adding that countries such as Turkey and Malaysia earned 20-25 million dollars from the tourism in the previous year.

“Investment in tourism is importance to us. Our country is one of the most secure countries in the world and Iranian handicrafts are famous globally," he explained.

Referring to the global economic crisis Bahmani said, “Thanks to Iran’s independence we have not been affected by this crisis that much.”

"The Central Bank of Iran supports the idea of establishing the Iran Tourism Bank," CBI governor concluded.

A high rank official in the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) said that with no doubt Iran is one the best choices for foreign investors.

“Iran’s government fully supports investments in the tourism sector. As far as we are concerned there is no difference between domestic and foreign investors and we have done our best to reduce the risks of investment in this sector to the lowest point possible. In fact investing in Iran’s tourism sector is no longer a risk but a chance,” he explained.

“Establishing Iran Tourism Bank which was one of the tourism industry family’s old dreams is now a reality, which can be promising for the private sector,” he added.

He went on to note that $50 billion worth of investment opportunities in Iran’s tourism industry, including more than 2,049 investment packages at a national and international level are now ready to be presented to the domestic and foreign investors.

Iran’s tourist spots, accommodation facilities like hotels, motels, and camping places, roadside service complexes, ecotourism, handicrafts marketplaces, and restorable monuments are among these projects.

Tourism Ministerial and Experts of 10 ECO Member States convened in the plush Tehran Laleh Hotel, 19-20 October 2008 to discuss ways and means of expansion of Tourism in the ECO region. The Ministerial meeting was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting who discussed the technical aspects of the subject and prepared the agenda for the 1^st ECO Ministerial Meeting on Tourism, held next day.

This was the third ECO meeting on promotion of tourism industry among the Member States. Representatives of international organizations stationed in Tehran, including UNESCO and UNIDO were also present there.

The Meeting was a unique opportunity for the ECO tourism experts to exchange views and ideas on tourism in regional scale and to work on the plans and objectives, already defined in the first and second High Level Experts Group Meetings on Tourism, held earlier in Tehran (Dec.2006) and Baku (May2008).

The Meeting underscored the establishment of ECO Tourism Promotion Fund. As the initiator of the TPF, Iran declared its readiness to set up the Fund which was endorsed and supported by Afghanistan, Rep. Azerbaijan and Turkey, all pledging to contribute to the Fund as soon as it was set up.

The subject of Rural Tourism” and “Health Tourism”, in line with the ECO Plan of Action, were introduced by the participating Members. “Rural Tourism” was the term offered by Afghanistan while the proposition for “Health Tourism” was submitted by the Iranian delegate. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan also offered to host a working group meeting on the revival of the Great Silk Road.

The meeting is due to take place in Mazar Sharif, Afghanistan mid March 2009, coinciding with the Norooz festivities which give the event a symbolic significance. Establishment of a collective ECO Web Portal, to link the official tourism web sites of the 10 Member States was another agreement accomplished during the high level Meeting.

ECO cultural Institute was praised for its efforts in preparing the first ECO Tourism Guide Book on regional level. The Meeting urged the non-responsive Members to complete and submit their country’s tourism information to ECI within next three months, so that ECI may complete the much awaited publication for distribution worldwide.

The 1^st ECO TGB is planned to be published in 500 pages total, allowing Member States to present their respective tourism profile in fifty pages each.

The highlight of the two day conference was the decision reached by the ECO Ministers to call November 28^th as The ECO Tourism Day in which the interesting plan of ‘Caspian Sea Cruise’ will be launched at the Caspian Sea to mark the Day annually. The cruise starts from the Bandar Anzali in Iran and countinues to port of Baku in Azerbaijan with the Turkmenbashi port in Turkmenistan as its final destination. Other festive activities are also to be initiated at the participating ports of embarkation to celebrate the day.

‘Visa Relaxation’ for ECO businessmen and regular travelers wishing to travel in the ECO countries, was also the subject of discussion by the high level tourism officials.