Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Hamidreza Varesi

Member of Faculty, University of Isfahan

Abstract

The tourism industry is a phenomenon that has been considered by human societies from distant past and has continued its march in time according to different economic, social, historical and other needs. This phenomenon, which has been dramatically developed since the Industrial Revolution, especially during the recent centuries, has been a source of important knowledge and technology in international relations and socio-economic development of countries.
The tourism industry, which is essentially based on travel, contains comprehensive goals about globe-trotting, pilgrimage, etc. Therefore, its field of activity is greater than other economic activities and its investment costs is much lower than other economic activities, because many ancient discoveries, historical monuments and natural landscapes can, by little investment and proper observance of standards of the tourism industry, turn into valuable tourist attractions.
Tourism has two forms: internal (Iran-touring) and international (glob-trotting). Iran-touring is a branch of tourism that is often a synonym for spending leisure time. The economic, social and cultural benefits of this branch of tourism can help employment situation, fair distribution of income, increase in the speed of the flow of money, familiarity and understanding among the peoples living in different parts of the country and consolidation of national unity.
Globe-trotting can also be a profitable activity concerning matters such as earning foreign currency, introducing domestic products to world markets and thus increasing production and expansion of exports. But in general, tourism is on the one hand a means of activity in production, distribution and creation of various services, and on the other hand a platform for understanding and friendship among nations. Today in many countries the tourism industry is an institution of cultural identity and one of the key sources of earning foreign currency. Iran, enjoying a variety of important tourist attractions, can also play a very important role both in terms of economic resources and in introducing itself as an independent culture in today's world. In addition to its unique natural landscapes, the land of Iran has important and valuable historical and religious monuments, both pre-Islamic and post-Islamic, many of which are unique in the world. In order to develop and expand tourism and help economic growth and development, increase national income, earn foreign exchange, raise the level of employment, help and develop Iran-touring in order to provide better facilities on the one hand, and o better and better understand the rich civilization and culture of Iran and Islam overseas on the other, the development and expansion of tourism and Iran tourism is inevitable, and inactivity in this regard will cause huge economic and non-economic damages.