The “Iranology Seminar” which was held at Al-Mustafa Islamic College in Kyengera drew the attendance of tour operators, cultural leaders, media partners, scholars, and students. This event facilitated academic research into various aspects, encompassing theoretical Islam, philosophy, spirituality, Islamic-Iranian art, and Persian literature.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Mr. Majid Saffar, the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda, praised Iranology seminars for their role in unlocking Iran’s cultural diversity, history, healthcare services, science and technology infrastructure, agriculture, astronomy, innovation, and global diplomacy.
The Ambassador encouraged participants to draw upon Iran’s experiences and promote cooperation. He highlighted Iran’s knowledge export, even reaching European countries.
Mr. Abdollah Abbasi, the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also the organiser of the event illuminated Iran’s rich cultural and natural treasures. He spoke about Iran’s favorable climate, its bountiful natural resources, and its 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlighting Iran’s unique position between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea, he emphasized the diverse tourist attractions it offers.
Mr. Abbasi delved into Iran’s excellence in medical tourism, spotlighting its advancements, skilled doctors, and diverse therapeutic offerings, such as naturopathy and wellness tourism. He underscored Iran’s reputation for providing cost-effective medical services, as well as its focus on comfort and accommodation for medical tourists.
“Iran has also considered comfort and accommodation facilities for them, so that tourists can treat their illness with peace of mind by renting accommodation before traveling.
Wellness tourism is mostly related to people who need to relax or have mental problems. In the therapeutic tourism trip, the tourist is looking for relaxation and release from the daily tensions of life and tends to stay away from any noise and crowd. This type of health tourism does not require a doctor or medical equipment, and the tourist tries to spend time in pristine and relaxing nature to polish his soul.” He said
Adding, “Mineral water springs, hotels, mountain, forest, beach or desert villas are the best areas for health tourists to spend their free time and are considered a special and appropriate choice for them. Fortunately, Iran has entered very strongly in this field and has many attractive and relaxing areas in different parts of the country. By traveling to Iran, tourists can choose the best place to access peace according to their taste and interest in wet or dry areas,”
He further explained that medical tourism in Iran has also put helped put Iran first on the tourists’ list when it comes to medical tourism.
“One of these features is the reduction of costs. In Iran, the costs of treatment and providing services to people are much lower compared to other countries. Most countries require high costs in providing medical services.,” He said
Noting, that Iran is in a high position in terms of medical science and experienced professional doctors. The skill and experience of doctors in the field of medical tourism is very important and important, so this issue cannot be ignored.
“Hydrotherapy: Mineral water springs are used to treat many diseases, including rheumatism, joint pains, and migraines. Many people travel to hot springs in different parts of the world to treat their illness and use them. Iran has many mineral water springs, and in this sense, it has a high absorption capacity in therapeutic tourism.
Salt therapy: Recently, salt therapy has been considered as one of the natural treatments for some diseases, which is welcomed by tourists all over the world. There are several salt mountains in Iran, that’s why salt therapy has become one of the tourist poles in our country.
Mud therapy: Another important attraction of Iran in the medical tourism industry is mud therapy. The shores of Lake Urmia and the slopes of Mount Taftan are two examples of these attractions that have made Iran able to attract medical tourists in this field.
Many diseases are treated in medical tourism in Iran. But the ones that have been more prominent and noticed are: Infertility, dentistry, heart and eye surgery, cosmetic and plastic surgery, dialysis and cancer-related disease,”
Mrs. Esther Nankinga, Managing Director of Mugalabi Technical Ventures Africa, shared her insightful experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran. She enthusiastically encouraged Ugandans to explore Iran’s offerings in culture, traditions, education, tourism, and trade. Mrs. Nankinga lauded the Iranian people’s hospitality towards visitors from diverse nations, expressing honor in sharing her perspective on the beautiful nation.
Adding to this sentiment, she highlighted Iran’s cultural heritage spanning millennia, contributing significantly to art, science, and philosophy. Beyond its cultural and intellectual achievements, Iran’s breathtaking landscape, spanning mountains to coastlines along the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf, coupled with the unique blend of modernity and tradition in its cities, presents a unique experience to visitors.
Mrs. Zahra Afzali, representing the scientific vice president of Iran, showcased Iran’s collaboration with knowledge-based companies across sectors like construction, agriculture, food science, and health sciences. She underscored Iran’s prowess in agriculture, possessing high-quality fertilizers, seeds, agrochemical inputs, and advanced machinery. She invited attendees to explore innovation and technology hubs at Al-Mustafa Islamic College.
Dr. Rouhollah Dehghani, the principal of Al-Mustafa Islamic College, illuminated the participants on the historical breadth of Iranian civilization, which dates back to approximately 10,000 years ago. He emphasized the catalytic role that such seminars play in awakening intellectual talents, fostering artificial intelligence, catalyzing socioeconomic transformation, and bolstering research demand.
