An enthusiastic response from high level local and international tourism and handicrafts experts has brought more than 500 participants from 35 countries to the world's first Conference on Tourism and Handicrafts opened last Saturday in Tehran. Its aim is to define the links between handicrafts and tourism.

This three day International Conference is organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) with the support of UNESCO and will focus on employment opportunities, alleviation of poverty and discovering new ways to promote tourism and handicrafts.

In his inauguration speech, Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General referred to the Conference as a ground breaking event: 'Tourism and handicrafts have a great effect on the lives of the people in today's world', he said, 'and Iran, with its great historical heritage, is a natural choice as the host country for this conference.'