The Role of Tourism in Development of Kish Free Zone (Iran)

Developing countries are faced with several shortages and limitations in achieving economic development; meanwhile, they possess certain advantages and facilities. A Free Zone acts as a tool, which can relatively compensate for the shortages and it converts the potential facilities and superiorities into actual abilities on a national scale. It can also bridge the gap between internal and external economies. Accordingly, the main objectives of Free Zones may be summarized as follows:  Easing the shortages of national economic development.  Enjoying the privileges, potentials and relative advantages of national economy.  Establishing a regular connection between the national economy and the global economy.  Gradually connecting the national economy to the global economy. To achieve economic growth within the framework of these general objectives, developing countries formulate more detailed goals for free zones, hoping that appropriate fulfillment of these goals responds to internal demands of the national economy. Some detailed objectives can be categorized as follows:  Attracting foreign investment, specifically in productive segments.  Supplying greater amount of foreign currency in order to meet the needs of national economy.  Acquiring and transferring technology into national economy.  Creating new job opportunities in the free zone and within national economy.  Increasing and diversifying export and expanding foreign trade  Improving the efficiency of national economy. When the first steps were taken for the establishment of "Free Trade-Industrial Zones" in Islamic Republic of Iran in 1989, various subjects were expressed in the press, radio and television, in the Parliament of Islamic Republic of Iran, and in many economic and social meeting in Iran, and different results were obtained. Development of tourism is an approach of sustainable development to this island, located in south of Iran.

Free zones, Development of tourism, Sustainable development