By Afshin Majlesi

Traveler recommends potential tourists to visit Iran before a “big influx”

Many tourism associates believe that Iran is still somewhat of a lesser-known destination for many avid globetrotters, saying the country, despite having enormous potentials, has a long way to go to occupy a dominant position in world tourism market.

Medical travelers hold significant share of arrivals in Iran: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that medical [and health] travelers constitute a significant share of arrivals in the country.

Foreign visitors hold 40% share of hotel occupancy in Khorasan Razavi

TEHRAN – Foreign travelers and pilgrims account for some 40 percent share of hotel occupancy in Khorasan Razavi province, a local tourism official has said.

Foreign arrivals in Gilan province jump 93% in 3 months on year

TEHRAN - The number of foreign arrivals in Gilan province soared 93 percent in the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from a year earlier, a provincial tourism official has said.

Foreign visits to Fars province’s historical sites on the rise

TEHRAN – Visits by international travelers to historical sites in Fars province rose 12 percent during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) compared to the same period a year earlier.

Foreign arrivals in Yazd jumps 29% in 4 months on year

TEHRAN – The number of foreign travelers visiting Iran’s Yazd province surged 29 percent in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from a year earlier, a provincial tourism official has said.

Official borders open to foreign travelers without passport stamps

TEHRAN – All Iranian border crossings let foreign nationals in without passport stamps according to a presidential decree that orders for the waiver of physical stamping on travelers’ passports upon entering or leaving the country, Interior Ministry’s spokesman has said.

UNESCO-tagged Lut Desert draws 5,000 foreign visitors a year

TEHRAN – Over 5,000 foreign sightseers visited the UNESCO-registered Lut Desert in the barren heartland of Iran during the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2019).

Foreign arrivals from Bazargan border up 57% in 4 months on year

TEHRAN – Foreign arrivals from Bazargan border, shared with Turkey in northwestern Iran, surged 57 percent in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from a year earlier, director of the border terminal has said.

Mashhad hospitals admit 6,000 foreign patients a year

TEHRAN – Mashhad hospitals admit an average of 6,000 foreign patients per annum, a deputy for the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences has said.

Iran’s spring foreign tourist arrivals surge 40.66 percent

TEHRAN - The number of foreign visitors arriving in Iran surged 40.66 percent during spring, which corresponds to the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year, compared with the same period last year, data from the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization showed on Saturday.

Foreign visits to Sacred Defense Museum jumps 80 percent

TEHRAN - The number of foreign tourists visiting the Sacred Defense Museum in Tehran in the past Iranian calendar year (March 2018-19) jumped 80 percent compared with a year earlier.

12% rise in foreign tourist visits to historical sites in Fars

TEHRAN – Visits by international travelers to historical sites in Fars province rose 12 percent during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) compared to the same period a year earlier.

Iraqi arrivals in Iran gaining momentum

TEHRAN - The number of Iraqi nationals visiting Iran is gaining momentum this year as the Islamic Republic endeavors to boost its tourism revenues in the face of U.S.-led sanctions. 

Foreign rail passengers to Mashhad on the rise

TEHRAN - The number of foreign visitors traveling to the northeastern city of Mashhad by train saw an increase of 5% during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21) compared to the same period last year.

Iran, Tajikistan stress expansion of tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran and Tajikistan have recently explored avenues to enhance tourism ties after the two nations experienced decline in the number of arrivals.

No more passport stamps for foreign nationals visiting Iran

TEHRAN - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has issued an order for the waiver of physical stamping on travelers’ passports upon entering or leaving the country. 

Iran to facilitate foreign tourist arrivals

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday issued a decree on facilitating foreign tourist arrivals in the country, saying that visa-stamping waivers should be extended to all airports across the country.

Foreign arrivals in Mashhad on the rise

TEHRAN – The number of foreign arrivals in Mashhad has been rising over the past couple of years, said Gholamabbas Arbab-Khales, the head of Foreign Ministry’s Mission in East and North Iran.

Suitcase trade exports of handicrafts fetches Iran $99m in year

TEHRAN – Iran earned some $99 million from exporting handicrafts via suitcase trade (allowed for customs-free and tax-free transfer) during the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20), the deputy director of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said on Monday, CHTN reported.

Middle East leads global tourism arrivals growth in Q1

TEHRAN – The Middle East tops international arrivals over the first quarter of 2019, with an eight percent growth year on year, according to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer from the World Tourism Organization.

Iranian arrivals in Turkey drop by 20 percent in 2018: envoy

TEHRAN – Iranian visits to Turkey fell some 20 percent in 2018 in comparison to a year earlier, Ankara’s ambassador to Tehran has said.

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.

Iran foreign arrivals up over 16% in Noruz

TEHRAN - The number of foreign visitors arriving in Iran rose 16.75 percent during Noruz (the Iranian new year holidays from March 21-April 4) compared to the same period last year, a senior tourism official has said.

Iran’s foreign arrivals up 52.5% y/y

TEHRAN - The number of international tourists visiting Iran surged 52.5 percent in the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended on March 20) from a year earlier, deputy tourism chief has said.

‘U.S. sanctions failed to lessen foreign arrivals to Iran’

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian tourism official has said that U.S.-led sanctions, targeting Iran’s economy, has failed to lessen foreign arrivals to the Islamic Republic.

By Afshin Majlesi

 Solid growth: A review of Iran’s tourism in 1397

TEHRAN – How Iran’s tourism industry has performed over the current Iranian calendar year 1397 (ending on March 20)? Well, according to data compiled by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, it has experienced a solid growth.

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 seeks balanced tourist flow with Turkey

TEHRAN – Head of the Association of Iranian Travel Agents has emphasized the need to attain a balance in tourist flow rates between Iran and Turkey.

Foreign arrivals in Iran’s Chabahar sharply rise

TEHRAN – Chabahar, in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, hosted 3,200 foreigner nationals during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018).