MNA � Acting Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry (CHTHO) Ali Asghar Moonesan said on Monday that tourism sector of the country is in dire need of $21 billion worth of investment.

�Our target is to achieve a 4.7 percent tourism share of gross domestic product (GDP) and for this reason, CHTHO will need $21 billion worth of investment in tourism sector,� he added.

Speaking in Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Moonesan stated, �today, tourism industry is the third largest economy in the world and its growing trend is accelerating as compared to the other sectors of economy.�

Tourism is the only sector that smarting does not have any effect on it, he said, adding, �for this purpose, advanced and developed countries are working on this issue.�

According to the statistics of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) with regards to the economy of the country, tourism share of gross domestic product (GDP) hit $11.8 billion, which accounts for about 2.8 to 3 percent share of GDP, while this rate stands at 4.7 percent in neighboring Turkey, he added.

To attain a 4.7 percent tourism share of GDP, Iran will require $21 billion worth of investment, he said, adding, �accordingly, the ministry welcomes cooperation and collaboration of private sector in order to materialize objectives of tourism industry in the country.�