UNWTO chief congratulates Mounesan on becoming tourism minister

TEHRAN – United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili in a letter on Thursday congratulated Ali-Asghar Mounesan on becoming Iran’s tourism minister.

Parliament confirms two proposed ministers

TEHRAN – On Tuesday, members of the parliament (Majlis) cast votes of confidence for two ministers proposed by President Hassan Rouhani.

226 tourism, handicrafts and cultural heritage projects inaugurated

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday inaugurated 226 projects in the fields of tourism, handicrafts and cultural heritage through video conference on the occasion of the Government Week (August 24-30).

Mounesan named acting tourism minister

TEHRAN - In a decree on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed Ali-Asghar Mounesan as the acting tourism minister.

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.

Tehran, Beijing stress expansion of tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Wednesday met with Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua, stressing the need for expansion of cooperation to exchange more travelers.

Tourism flourishing despite sanctions: VP

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief on Tuesday said that that country’s tourism sector is gaining momentum despite U.S.-led sanctions. 

Iran one step closer to create ministry of tourism

TEHRAN – Iran has moved a step closer to form a ministry of cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism, as its Guardian Council, which is empowered to vet legislation in the Islamic Republic, gave its approval on Monday.

Damage to Hassanabad Sq. to be compensated soon

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has said that damage to Tehran’s Hassanabad Sq., which was on fire late on Wednesday, will be compensated as soon as possible.

Longstanding Sino-Iranian relations could help foster tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism chief has said that longstanding cultural and trade relations between Iran and China could lay a solid ground for developing mutual tourism ties.

Iran eyes to gain a UNESCO tag for its historical castles, fortresses

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has said the country is developing a dossier for its historical castles and fortresses for a possible inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Efforts underway to ease traveling to Iran, tourism chief says

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that the country is putting a great deal of effort to facilitate and increase foreign tourist arrivals.

Iran sets sights on drawing 2 million Chinese tourists per annum 

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism organization has set sights on attracting two million Chinese nationals per annum after the country approved to waive the visa requirement for Chinese travelers.

Iran tourism grows 1.9% to account for 6.5% of GDP

Iran’s tourism sector grew by 1.9% to contribute 1,158 trillion rials ($8.83 billion) or 6.5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 1,334 jobs (5.4% of total employment) in 2018, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s annual report.

30 hotels being built in East Azarbaijan province

TEHRAN – A total of 30 hotels and apartment hotels are under construction by the private sector across East Azarbaijan to develop the hospitality industry in the northwestern Iranian province.

Rouhani calls for development of tourism sector

TEHRAN –President Hassan Rouhani has called for the development of tourism sector as a need to expand economy, create job opportunities and boost friendship between cultures and societies.

Tourism contributes $11.8b to Iran’s GDP: Mounesan

TEHRAN – Iran’s earnings from tourism contributed $11.8b to its gross domestic product (GDP) in the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20), Tourism Chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Tuesday.

Tehran street titled “Handicrafts Parade” 

TEHRAN – Authorities in the capital city of Tehran have granted the title of “Handicrafts Parade” to a downtown street, where there are tens of shops specialized in handicrafts, CHTN reported.

Iranian tourism to overseas drops by 24.5%

TEHRAN – Iran’s outbound tourism slumped 24.5% during the first month of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) from the same period a year earlier, a tourism official said on Wednesday.

Dam tourism in the pipeline in Iran

TEHRAN – Dam tourism attractiveness is to be highlighted across the country based on a recent agreement between the Ministry of Energy and the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.

Iran exempts inbound tour operators from VAT

TEHRAN – Iranian travel agencies have been exempted from value-added tax (VAT) in order to encourage the county’s budding tourism sector.

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 seeks return of 1,300 stolen artifacts

TEHRAN - Iran earnestly seeks the return of some 1,300 historical relics, which have been previously smuggled out of the country, tourism chief said on Saturday.

Foreign tourist arrivals fetch Iran $11.8b in calendar year

TEHRAN – International travelers have spent some $11.8 billion in Iran over the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20), tourism chief said on Sunday.

New tourism route to link inland desert with Caspian Sea

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism body is considering to create a new tourism route, which will connect an inland desert to the Caspian coasts, CHTN reported on Sunday.

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.