The year of 2015 and the 16th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) in the capital of Czech Republic, Prague, was a memorable event for Iranian tourist guides society as they have acquired the host of the largest and the most important international gathering of tourist guides thanks to the hard work and efforts of the representatives. World needs a better positive insight through Iran’s heritage and history, so it is believed that this event would bright the light in the future route of tourism development in Iran.
Taking advantage of the enthusiastic volunteer tourist guides, the campaign of “Iran WFTGA 2017 Convention” have been started to work since the beginning of June 2015. Elaborating 17th WFTGA Convention in Iran, the first performance seminar was held in Ghasr Museum, the permanent Hall of the IFTGA (Iran Federation of Tourist Guides Associations) meetings on 27th October 2015, with the presence of the officials and specialists in tourism industry.
Each committee explained to the audience their accomplishments in the course of past 4 months.
Cultural & Education, Advertisement & International Relations, Advertisement & Public Relations, Marketing & Sponsorship, Catering & Hospitality, Cooperating, Financial & Legal Committees and writing books, translation, Websites & social media groups(into at least two languages of Farsi & English) are the groups of the Convention. All of them have some subdivisions with certain responsibilities towards the Convention main purposes.
Secretary-General of the Tehran Convention, Mohsen Haji saied, in his opening address said: The event of Convention would be a historic turning point in the country’s tourism industry since representatives from all around the world would commend distinct traits of Iran. Referring to the importance of having a systematic plan for the event, he added: “By means of this occasion, Iran needs to improve the infrastructures and welfare facilities promptly, and speeding up the process to get Visas and insurances to attract more tourists and make them satisfy as a deserved host”.
The next section of the seminar was dedicated to display a short movie of Ruby Roy, the vise president of WFTGA. She congratulated Iranian tourist guides to host the next WFTGA Convention and said:” This would be a decisive event for growth the tourism industry in Iran. The Convention has a noteworthy outcome to bump the tourism up for the host as the rest of the world knows it well, and this time is for Iran’s to strengthen it. Today WFTGA is the only global forum for tourist guides to communicate and for countries to grow the changes of this industry. It facilitates the exchange of information between the members.
Iranian tourist guides are so much able and aware to introduce their country, she said and added: “The Convention would be a very good opportunity for them to fulfill that”.
Zhaleh Ibrahimi, vise-president of the board in TTGA (Tehran Tourist Guides Association) and the head of Educational Committee of the Convention, said:” To train professional tourist guides is the most essential part of our work. The committee is included in expert old handed guides”.
Climbing the mount Damavand, the highest peak in Iran and in the Middle East, was done by a group of 24 eco-tourism guides from several provinces of Iran to support the Convention, said Parviz Shojaee Parsa, the head of Sport Committee.
Publishing the informative book of Iranian Hospitality would be a new record for the Iranian tour leaders, investigate in two parts of library and field study, said Lida AliNejad , the representative for the Hospitality Group, a sub-division of cultural committee.
‘The Records of Iran’ is another forthcoming book, to be unveiled on the next Book Fair as saying Golnaz Dezfuli.
An Iranian tourist couple, Samira Fallah & Mohammad Reza Afshar, presented their documentations such as slides and photos. To support and promote the Convention and to introduce the Iranian culture and other precious assets, they have started a journey throughout the country.
The committee of Translation had wrapped up proceedings during past few months with competence and translated related texts (news, essays & itineraries) from/into Persian, English, French and German languages. “Iran; Friendly Faces, Open Arms, Ancient Cultures, Timeless Charms”, the slogan for the Convention was also drafted and confirmed by the committee said the head, Somayeh MahdaviNia.
Sharing first-hand news in famous four media, Facebook, Linkedin, Googleplus, & Instagram, in fraction of a second is the responsibility of the Social Media team, said Saeed Ayyobi, head of the team and added:” Our pages are quickly growing in followers and it shows persons curiosity to visit Iran”.
To implement ‘strengthening the infrastructure plan’, Dard-e Del Campaign is going to help to solve the bathrooms low quality, said Raha Akhondan, creator of the campaign and requested the governmental and private sector to join.
Mehdi Anbar, deputy of the Heritage, handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Tehran, informed the audience about dedicating a suitable work office to the Convention.
At the end of the seminar, Arash Noor Aghae, head of the Convention, appreciated the hard team work and unity of the Iranian tour leaders to record such a historic event and said: “This is an influential start ending with delightful happenings to hold the Tehran WFTGA 2017 Convention inimitable”.
Translated by: Mina Mehdinia
