Iran chosen member of WTO executive council

LONDON, December 3 (IranMania) - Iran has been elected as a member of the executive council of the World Tourism Organization once again after 30 years, CHN said.

The decision has been made during the 16th session of the general assembly of the World Tourism Organization which is held in Dakar, capital of Senegal.

?26 of the member countries have been elected as members of the executive council; Iran was one of them,? said Mehdi Tabeshian, director general of the international affairs department of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran.

According to Tabeshian, Iran had once been a member of the council for two years, however, its inactive role caused the isolation of the country. ?The Executive Council which holds sessions every two years, is regarded the second most important body of the association after the General Assembly and adjust the budgets and plannings,? added Tabeshian.

?With membership in the Executive Council, we will become aware of the budgeting process in the Assembly, according to which we could plan some comprehensive programs for our tourism development,? explained Tabeshian.

According to Tabeshian, holding the International Conference of ?Handicrafts and Tourism?, which will be held in April/May 2006 by the World Tourism Organization in Iran, will be a serious challenge for Iran, during which Iran should reveal its true capabilities and potentials.

World Tourism Organization General Assembly reelected Francesco Frangialli as the Secretary General for another 4 years during the yesterday session.

Iranian team attending the session under the supervision of Esfandiar Rahim Hashayi, director of Iran?s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, held meetings with the tourism authorities of some countries such as Indonesia, Kuwait, and Pakistan.

The General Assembly session of the World Tourism Organization is held every two years in one of the member countries, and it is for the first time ever that an African country is hosting an assembly.

An international tourism poster exhibition is held alongside the Assembly in a place reserved for this purpose at the Meridian President hotel. The five best posters selected by the participants will be awarded the Vettor Giusti prizes during the General Assembly.

The session will run through to 2nd of December.