Alireza Tabesh said: This is the second meeting held in the past month with the participation of private sector activists and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce on medical tourism issues.
Stating that last month in Khorramshahr, we had a three and a half hour meeting at the Khorramshahr Chamber of Commerce with the participation of the private sector and relevant officials, in which various important issues were raised, he continued: The Seventh Development Plan predicts that the income from medical tourism in the country will be $6 billion by the end of this program, and if there is a national determination for this matter, of course, more than this amount can be expected as foreign exchange income for the country.
The CEO of Hegata Holding considered tourism an interconnected chain of services and added: In these two months, we have examined the issues and challenges of medical tourism between Iran and Iraq by attending and meeting with officials from Khorramshahr and Abadan and the Arvand Free Zone and private sector activists at the Chamber of Commerce. Today, we decided to cross the Shalamcheh border like other tourists and pilgrims and see the issues and problems up close.
Tabesh stated: Unfortunately, there are problems on the way and there are not enough facilities for easier movement of passengers. The situation is worse when entering Iraqi territory. This is while many of these issues can be solved with simple coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NAJA and the Road Administration.
Referring to the International Tourism Opportunities Conference to be held in the Khorramshahr and Abadan regions in May 2025, he stated: In a conversation with the Deputy Minister of Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant officials, we suggested that Iraqi delegations interested in investment and cooperation be invited to this conference through the Chamber of Commerce or Consulates General. We are also ready to hold the first exhibition of health tourism capabilities in Basra next year in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and tourism and health activists.
Referring to the company’s capacities in the country’s tourism industry, the CEO of Hegata Holding said: Hegata is the country’s largest tourism holding and operates and provides services in sectors such as Homa Five-Star Hotels, Raja Rail Transportation, Iran Tour and Tourism Hotels, and International Supply Agency nationwide. We can play an effective role in defining various travel packages and facilitating the reception of Iraqi tourists and providing them with quality services.
Tabesh also stated about the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project: According to railway officials, the president is following up on this project on a weekly basis. It is expected that after its operation, three million people will travel via this railway route annually. If the private sector invests in providing locomotives, we welcome it, and Raja Rail Transportation Company is ready to provide the required trains.
He pointed out the importance of creating an online platform for the registration and entry of health tourists and added: “Currently, the process of entering foreign patients and transferring them to medical centers is accompanied by problems and harms. We intend to launch a platform that will facilitate the entire process of accepting, entering, treating and staying medical tourists. With this, the process of providing services to tourists will be determined by how the foreign tourist entered the country, in which hospital he is hospitalized, in which hotel he is staying, what services he uses and when he returns to his country.” The CEO of Hegata Holding emphasized: “One of the main problems is that we are not present in the “origin”. That the consulate can provide the basis for establishing a representative office of the supply agency in Basra
Referring to the high volume of Iraqi nationals crossing the Shalamcheh border, Tabesh noted: “On weekends and holidays, 10,000 to 20,000 people cross this border, of which at least 5,000 come to Iran to receive medical services. If even 10 percent of these patients can be attracted with planning in the first year, 500 patients will enter the Khorramshahr and Abadan medical centers daily. This could have a significant impact on the prosperity of health tourism in the region.” He pointed out the need to improve behavior and service provision to foreign tourists and said: “Education is a very important issue and affects the way tourists are served, because in some cases, inappropriate treatment of tourists has a negative impact on their travel experience. We must, with the help of the private sector and experts, create conditions for tourists to receive high-quality services from the moment they arrive until the end of their stay.” The CEO of Hegata Holding stated: The Iraqis have suggested that they are willing to pay the relevant fees to expedite the passport process, but no major steps have been taken yet to create CIP facilities. We hope that with the predictions made in cooperation with the officials of the Arvand Free Zone and other related institutions, these obstacles will be removed and we will witness the creation of facilities for incoming tourists at the Shalamcheh border.
Tabesh continued by talking about Iran’s plans to cooperate with neighboring countries in the field of medical tourism and added: Creating a health-oriented alliance with Islamic and neighboring countries is one of the important strategies in tourism diplomacy. The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has prioritized developing relations with regional countries, and we can use this opportunity to introduce Iran’s medical capacities.
He emphasized: These cooperations can help attract health tourists, increase foreign exchange earnings, and strengthen Iran’s position in the medical tourism market.
Tabesh considered the role of the media and economic activists in introducing the country’s medical tourism capacities important and said: “We need the support of the media and influential people to introduce Iran as a reputable destination in the field of medical tourism. We also invite domestic and foreign investors to participate in this sector. With a coherent planning and cooperation of various sectors, we can turn Iran into one of the main medical tourism destinations in the region.”