Tourism chief cuts ribbon on major tulip festival

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Saturday inaugurated the 21st Gachsar Tulip Festival which puts on show tens of thousands of flowers, CHTN reported. 

Iran tourism flourishing despite U.S. sanctions

Figures disclosed by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization shows that over 7.8 million foreigners traveled to the Islamic Republic during the past Iranian year (ended on March 20), a 52% hike year on year.

By Afshin Majlesi

Travel in Iran grows over Persian New Year holidays

TEHRAN - People in Iran made 74 million overnight stays in their domestic trips during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays, an increase of 20 percent year on year, Iran tourism chief announced on Sunday.

Over 74m overnight stays recorded across Iran in Noruz

TEHRAN – Iranians made over 74 million overnight stays during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays, starting March 21, CHTN reported.

Travel in Iran seen to grow by 20% over Noruz holidays: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has estimated that domestic trips would grow by 20 percent over the New Year holidays (Noruz, staring March 21) from a year earlier, Mehr reported.

Iran to ease visa rules for Iraqi Kurdistan travelers

TEHRAN – Iran is to loosen travel restrictions for Iraqi Kurdistan travelers in the hope of boosting tourism by offering electronic visas instead of printed ones.

Museum displaying decades of archaeological discoveries in Iran

TEHRAN – Selects of objects unearthed in Iran over the four past decades have been put on show at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran.

Holding joint exhibits can help nations promote peace: Iran tourism chief

TEHRAN – People of the world can realize that Iranians are kind, peaceful and [deeply] rooted in history by the means of joint exhibitions which makes nations more acquainted with each other, brings them closer and [consequently] advocates global peace, Iran tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Tuesday.

Iran to lift import tariffs on tourism-related equipment

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that the country will exempt tourism-related equipment from import tariffs in a bid to buttress the tourism industry.

Meybod celebrates becoming world city for Zilou

TEHRAN – On Monday, Meybod celebrated becoming a world city for Zilou, a traditional type of floor covering commonly woven across the central Iranian city and its outskirts.

Iran, Iraq seeking UN recognition of Arba’een pilgrimage

TEHRAN - Iranian tourism and cultural heritage authorities in collaboration with their Iraqi counterparts are implementing a plan to promote the recognition of Arba’een pilgrimage on the UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, CHTN reported.

Handicrafts exports up 11%, hit $190 million

TEHRAN – Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $190 million in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018), showing 11 percent growth year on year.

Iran says it has traced two Achaemenid reliefs stolen decades ago

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that the country has traced two more Achaemenid-era (550-330) bas-relief carvings, which were stolen from Persepolis decades ago.

Officials propose closer Iranian, Spanish tourism ties

TEHRAN – Tehran ambassador to Madrid has proposed Iranian travel marketers and tourism entrepreneurs to deepen ties with their Spanish counterparts, IRNA reported on Friday.

CHHTO, UNWTO ink agreement to foster cooperation

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations World Tourism Organization to develop ties for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Major exhibit to stage Iran’s history, civilization in Spain

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief said on Saturday that the country aims to introduce its ancient history and civilization to the people of Spain by throwing a major loan exhibit.

Foreign arrivals in Iran reaches six million in nine months

TEHRAN – Over six million foreign nationals visited Iran during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018), a remarkable rise from the same period last year, tourism chief has said.

Holidaymakers invited to spend Christmas in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has proposed people from across the world to opt the country for spending Christmas vacation this year.

Single UNESCO dossier compiled for Masouleh, Hyrcanian Forest

TEHRAN – Following sustained efforts to earn UNESCO tags for Masouleh and Hyrcanian Forest, Iran tourism chief on Sunday said they are to be assessed as a single property.

In honor of the longest night: Iran pursuing UNESCO recognition of Yalda

TEHRAN – Iran continues collaborating with the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO to register “Celebration of Yalda Night” officially on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Thousands of Achaemenid-era clay tablets to be back home

TEHRAN – Over 11,000 flawless [Achaemenid-era] clay tablets and a large number of fragments of their kind will be back home, Iran tourism chief said on Wednesday.

VP calls for better visa services for Iranian, British nationals

TEHRAN – Iranian Vice President Ali-Asghar Mounesan has called for better visa services for Iranian and British nationals, saying Iranians should not face problem to receive UK visa, IRNA reported on Sunday.

Iraq tops Iran’s visiting tourists list

TEHRAN – Some 2 million Iraqi nationals visited Iran during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), turning the country into Iran’s largest source of tourists, ISNA reported.

Iran attracts more travelers as medical tourism gets boost

TEHRAN – The number of foreign travelers to Iran has seen a considerable year-on-year growth as medical tourism gains momentum in the country, tourism chief has said.

Iran starts issuing e-visas, raising hopes for more travelers

TEHRAN – Iran has started issuing electronic visas for those traveling to the country, in a bid to facilitate tourist inflow and to cope with sanctions recently reimposed by the U.S.

Ground broken for cultural center in Khoy

TEHRAN – Construction of a special cultural center began on Monday in the premises of the Shams-i Tabrizi mausoleum in the northwestern city of Khoy. 

Tehran, Sofia discuss ways to deepen tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iranian Vice President Ali-Asghar Mounesan has discussed ways with his Bulgarian counterpart Iliana Iotova to expand tourism ties.

Iran’s H1 foreign arrivals at six million

TEHRAN – Some six million foreign travelers visited Iran in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), a tourism official said on Wednesday.

Hamedan talks raise awareness of high-techs in support of tourism

TEHRAN – The city of Hamedan hosted a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) session this week, which highlighted harnessing cultural tourism by the means of cutting-edge technologies.

Rouhani lauds CHHTO for full restoration of Ali Qapu

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has appreciated the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization for fully restoration of the landmark Ali Qapu Palace.