Germany’s TUI Group, the largest leisure, travel and tourism company in the world, is interested in investment in Iran which is being billed as the most lucrative hospitality development market.

Preliminary negotiations have been held for the multinational tour operator to enter Iran and make investments, minister of economic affairs, labor and transport for the federal state of Lower Saxony Olaf Lies told Press TV.

He is leading a delegation of 100 German politicians and traders on a four-day visit to Iran in what he described as a “big event” at a press meeting in Tehran Tuesday.

The visit comes right on the heels of German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel who traveled to Iran in July at the head of a high-profile delegation of state officials and representatives of Daimler, Siemens, Linde, BASF, GIZ and others.

“What is significant and wonderful more about this visit is that we discussed specifically and in detail our projects and plans and paved the way for further visits by traders and officials to Iran” Lies said.

He touched on existing capacities for investment by German companies in Iran’s tourism infrastructure and related industries, given the rising numbers of Germans travelling to Iran or interested in visiting the country.

“Negotiations have been already held for cooperation and investment in this sector and in my talks with Iranian officials, we discussed even the idea of launching a direct flight between Hanover and Tehran,” Lies said.

Minister of economic affairs, labor and transport for Germany's Lower Saxony Olaf Lies (1st L) holds a meeting with Iranian officials and traders in Tehran.

Iran’s nuclear accord in July has triggered a jet-setting mission by international entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as state politicians in hunt for new business opportunities in the country of 80 million people.

Hotel groups from several countries are pushing to boost their portfolios in Iran in anticipation of a big bonanza.

Last month, France’s AccorHotels signed a deal with Iran’s Tourism Financial Group to run two hotels near Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, with plans to book 100 more hotels.

Also, Switzerland’s OrientStay launched an Airbnb-style accommodation service in Iran for people to list, find, and rent lodging.

Iran has hammered out an investment package worth $25 billion to revitalize its tourism which has been under the shadow of its sprawling petroleum industry.

Iranian officials say the country plans to attract 20 million foreign tourists in order to generate up to 30 billion of revenues a year by 2025.