Iranian tour operators ask government to issue visas for vaccinated travelers

TEHRAN - Head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association Ebrahim Pourfaraj has asked the government to issue tourist visas for the international applicants who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Foreign arrivals to Iran plunge 94 percent in face of virus

TEHRAN – The number of foreign visitors to Iran plunged 94% in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2020), from a year earlier, government data showed on Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic takes a heavy toll of the tourism industry.

Intl. travels slump by 84% in Iran due to coronavirus

TEHRAN -- The average of international travels to and from Iran fell by 84 percent during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2020) from a year earlier.

Coronavirus: world tourist arrivals fall by more than 70%

TEHRAN – World tourist arrivals fell by 72% over the first ten months of the year, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Iran’s tourism achieves growth despite sanctions: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism sector achieved a growth [of almost ten percent year on year] in the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (March 2019-March 2020) despite the adverse effects of the U.S. sanctions, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Saturday.

Responsible tourism a workable solution for coronavirus era: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister has said that responsible tourism is a workable solution for holidaymakers to get assured of safe traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign arrivals in Isfahan rise sevenfold in 7 years

TEHRAN – Some 450,000 foreign nationals visited the central Iranian province of Isfahan during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 20), a sevenfold rise compared to around 64,000 visits during the Iranian calendar year 1391 (March 2012-March 2013).

Iranian craftspeople, businesses incur $452m loss due to coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Thursday said that the handicrafts industry and related businesses across the country have suffered a loss of 19,000 billion rials (some $452 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nonzero: only 74 international travelers visit Iran during spring

TEHRAN – The number of foreign travelers to Iran has drastically plunged due to the global coronavirus pandemic as the Islamic Republic registered only 74 visits during the spring season.

‘Diplomacy Package’ to help Iran recover virus-hit tourism

TEHRAN – Iran is formulating a new initiative called “Tourism Diplomacy Package” to help the tourism sector recover from the coronavirus impact through using diplomacy to accelerate development projects and increase incoming tourists.

Iran setting rules to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The ministries of tourism and health in close collaboration with several other government bodies are defining a series of rules for admitting foreign travelers to the country amid a standstill in the global tourism industry caused mainly by the coronavirus.

Iran ‘has earned plaudits’ to ease COVID-19 impact on tourism, UNWTO says

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organization has praised efforts made by Iran's tourism ministry to manage the travel industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran ready to facilitate arrival of Afghan medical travelers: minister

TEHRAN – Iran is considering to make it easier for the Afghan nationals who are willing to visit the neighboring country for medical purposes, tourism minister has said.

Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.

COVID-19 cuts foreign arrivals in Iran by 15.8%: UNWTO

TEHRAN – Iran has suffered an average 15.8 percent fall in foreign arrivals during the first three months of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that analyzes impact of the COVID-19 on international tourism.

More tourists visit Mazandaran province and spend more

TEHRAN – The number of foreign tourists visiting the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran rose by 81 percent during the past Iranian year 1398 (ended March 19) while spending rose by almost a quarter, according to a senior provincial official.

Foreign arrivals in West Azarbaijan up 12% yr/yr

TEHRAN - The number of international tourists visiting [or passing through] Iran’s West Azarbaijan province rose by 12 percent during the past Iranian calendar year 1398 compared to the year earlier.

Tourism minister proposes days off after coronavirus crisis ends

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Saturday proposed the government to announce days off after the country overcomes the coronavirus crisis in a bid to help the battered tourism sector make a rebound.

By Afshin Majlesi

“Majestic Iran” salutes travel, culture enthusiasts and exhibitgoers

TEHRAN – The 13th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition opens tomorrow morning with all hopes to well introduce lesser–known destinations, services and travel businesses, yet to offer pocket-friendly travel packages to the visitors.

Foreign visits to Aras Free Zone up 74% in 10 months

TEHRAN – The number of foreign arrivals in Aras Free Zone, northwestern Iran, rose by 74 percent during the first ten months of the [current Iranian calendar] year (started March 21, 2019), IRNA reported. 

37 million Iranian pilgrims, travelers visit Mashhad in 10 months

TEHRAN – Some 37 million Iranian pilgrims and travelers visited the shrine city of Mashhad, the capital of Khorasan Razavi province, since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2019).

Iran second most popular destination for Azeri tourists

TEHRAN – Iran was named the second most popular destination for Azerbaijani tourists in 2019, according to data collected from travel agencies.

Foreign arrivals in Iran hits 8 million in 10 months: tourism minister

TEHRAN - Some eight million foreign nationals have visited Iran since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2019) despite [U.S.] sanctions and a sharp decline in flights by some foreign airlines, tourism minister has said.

Overnight stays in Ardebil province jump 40% yr/yr

TEHRAN - Overnight stays in Ardebil province rose 40 percent during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019) compared with the same period last year.

Foreign arrivals in Mazandaran surge 38 percent

TEHRAN – The number of foreign visitors arriving in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province surged 38 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), compared with the same period last year, provincial deputy tourism chief has said.

Over 1.6 million travelers visit Ilam province in 9 months

TEHRAN – Some 1.63 million travelers visited historical sites and heritage museums across Ilam province, a lesser-known travel destination in western Iran, during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019).

Iraqi nationals top list of foreign tourist arrivals in Kordestan

TEHRAN – Iraqi travelers constituted the largest source of foreign arrivals in the western Iranian province of Kordestan during the first three quarters of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), compared to the same period last year, provincial tourism chief has said.

Kermanshah exports of handicrafts surge 40 percent, hit $15 million

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from western Kermanshah province reached some $15 million in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), showing 40 percent growth year on year.