The Role of the Second Pahlavi Government in the Establishment and Promotion of the Tourism Industry in the Persian Gulf

Abstract

The tourism industry, in its modern form, emerged in Iran for the first time during the Pahlavi era. Initially, in 1935, an office titled "Office for Foreign Travelers and Publicity" was established, and its activities were limited to publishing tourism brochures and guidebooks. The growth and development of this industry were realized through the establishment of the "Tourism Attraction Organization" in 1966 and the formation of the "Ministry of Information and Tourism" in 1974. One of the destinations that has always been attractive and of interest to tourists is the southern ports and islands of Iran. These places, with their various historical, environmental, and cultural attractions, have always drawn tourists to them. Among these regions, Kish Island, with features such as favorable weather, beautiful nature, historical sites, and rare plant and animal species, became one of the islands receiving special attention for tourism development in southern Iran during the Second Pahlavi period. In the present research, based on sources such as memoirs of Pahlavi officials and available documents, and using a descriptive-analytical method, an attempt has been made to answer the question of how the tourism industry grew and developed in the Iranian ports and islands of the Persian Gulf during the Second Pahlavi era, particularly Kish Island, which became an international tourist island during this period.