Erkol: Prepared to Expand Tourism and Cultural Cooperation between Mashhad and Turkey
The Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Mashhad announced that the consulate is ready to expand tourism and cultural cooperation between Mashhad and Turkish cities.
Murat Erkol, in a meeting with Mohammadreza Qalandar Sharif, Mayor of Holy Mashhad, stated: “Relations between Iran and Turkey, particularly between Mashhad and Istanbul and Bursa, have vast potential in the fields of tourism, culture, and academia.” He added that the Turkish Consulate will employ all its resources to facilitate the development of bilateral cooperation.
Referring to direct flights operated by Turkish airlines to Mashhad, Erkol described these connections as a valuable opportunity to strengthen people-to-people ties. He emphasized: “Our goal is to transform these symbolic relations into genuine and active cooperation in cultural, academic, and urban services.” Erkol also noted that they are pursuing sister-city agreements between Mashhad and Bursa and enhancing engagement with Istanbul to elevate cultural and economic relations to the highest level.
The Mayor of Holy Mashhad said during the meeting: “Mashhad, as Iran’s second largest metropolis and the country’s civilizational and religious hub, serves as the center of the Islamic Republic’s urban diplomacy in cooperation with Turkey’s major cities.”
Mohammadreza Qalandar Sharif highlighted Mashhad’s unique position, noting: “Every year, more than 30 million Iranian pilgrims and about 5 million foreign tourists visit this city. This makes Mashhad one of the most important communication nodes between Iran and the Islamic world.”
He explained that pilgrimage tourism is the top priority, but there are also extensive opportunities in historical, cultural, and health tourism. “We hope to see a significant presence of Turkish tourists in Holy Mashhad in the near future,” he said.
The Mayor also pointed to Mashhad’s urban investment potential, stating: “From housing and transport infrastructure to municipal services, creative industries, and tourism, a safe and ready environment has been prepared for foreign investors, especially Turkish companies.”
Qalandar Sharif continued: “Mashhad Municipality functions as the hub of Iran’s urban diplomacy. The national Urban Diplomacy Office is based here, and Mashhad is an active member of major international networks such as Metropolis and UCLG.”
He concluded: “The proposal for a sister-city relationship between Mashhad and Istanbul had been raised earlier. Moreover, due to cultural ties, we have also proposed a similar sister-city agreement between Tus — the birthplace of Hakim Abolqasem Ferdowsi — and the historic city of Harran in Turkey. We hope, with the diplomatic follow-up of the Turkish side, this cultural cooperation will be implemented.”
