By Afshin Majlesi

World Tourism Day: COVID-19 makes a big difference

September 27th is a special day for potential travelers and all tourism insiders: It’s World Tourism Day! However, for the first time in the 40-year history of the occasion, it will be held this year with a big difference amid the deep global economic recession, job losses, halted flights, as well as lockdowns and closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Health ministry approves responsible tourism plan

TEHRAN – The health ministry has approved the tourism ministry’s proposed plan on responsible tourism for safe traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.

German exhibit picks self-portrait of Iranian boy in coronavirus era

TEHRAN – The International Youth Library (Internationale Jugendbibliothek, IJB) in the southern German city of Munich has selected a painting by nine-year-old Iranian boy Hossein Karimi for an exhibition displaying self-portraits of children from across the world during the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

Muharram rituals in Yazd to be held differently due to coronavirus pandemic

TEHRAN – While Iran is still fighting the coronavirus outbreak, this year’s Muharram mourning rituals would be different from previous years.

Qatar Airways increases Doha-Shiraz flights

TEHRAN – Qatar Airways, the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar, has increased its Doha-Shiraz flights from four times to seven times a week.

Director Amir Dejakam calls teleplays viable alternatives in pandemic

TEHRAN – Director Amir Dejakam has said that teleplays can be practical alternatives to stage performances during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Expansion of economic ties discussed between Iran, Georgia

TEHRAN- During a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Georgia Javad Qavam Shahidi and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, the two sides explored the ways for the expansion of Iran-Georgia economic relations.

IIEC receives no order on not holding exhibits: managing director

TEHRAN- The managing director of Iran International Exhibitions Company (IIEC)said that this company has received no letter from the Coronavirus Control Operations Headquarters banning exhibition holding.

ICOMOS meetings postponed over coronavirus pandemic

TEHRAN – The 20th edition of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly and Scientific Symposium was postponed until further notice amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the ICOMOS official website. 

Economic relations expansion discussed between Iran, Brazil

TEHRAN- During a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Brazil Hossein Gharibi and Governor of the Brazilian state of Paraná Ratinho Júnior, the two sides explored the ways for the expansion of economic ties, especially in the agricultural, petrochemical and technological fields.

Iran, Tunisia to expand tourism ties 

TEHRAN – Iran and Tunisia have recently signed a memorandum of understating (MOU) to expand tourism ties despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran’s exhibitions to be held on schedule

TEHRAN- Iran’s all exhibitions, especially the big ones such as ELECOMP, Agrofood, oil & gas, Iran Health, and construction exhibits, will be held on schedule and complying with all health protocols, the managing director of Iran International Exhibitions Company (IIEC) stated on Wednesday.

Writer Moradi Kermani recommends children to read books in pandemic

TEHRAN – Iranian children’s book writer Hushang Moradi Kermani has said that reading books is the best thing for children and young adults to do during the days of coronavirus pandemic.

Teleplays viable alternatives to stage performances during pandemic: Hadi Marzban 

TEHRAN – Director Hadi Marzban has said that teleplays are viable alternatives to stage performances during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Paintings on face masks to go on view at Tehran gallery 

TEHRAN – Tehran’s CAMA – Contemporary and Modern Art Gallery will be playing host to a group exhibition of paintings on face masks to help encourage more people to wear face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 3,000 tourism workers in Kish lose job over coronavirus outbreak 

TEHRAN – Some 3,000 tourism workers in Kish Island have lost their jobs temporarily as the coronavirus has nearly closed down all travel hotspots across the Persian Gulf island, ILNA reported. 

Coronavirus cuts medical tourists in Mashhad by 95%

TEHRAN – The coronavirus pandemic has slashed the number of travelers visiting the city of Mashhad for medical purposes by 95 percent over the past few months, IRNA reported.

Why COVID-19 claims fewer lives in Iran compared to many other countries?

TEHRAN – Fortunately, compared to many countries in the world, the mortality rate of coronavirus in Iran is significantly lower than in many developed countries, Ehsan Mostafavi, director of the research center for emerging and re-emerging diseases of the Pasteur Institute of Iran has said.

World Milk Day: drink healthy milk, fight coronavirus

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health has called on people to join celebrating the World Milk Day 2020 with the slogan “drink healthy milk, fight coronavirus”.

More borders reopening while taking preventive measures against coronavirus

TEHRAN- More borders of Iran with its neighbors, which are some major trade partners of the Islamic Republic, are being reopened, while considering the health protocols regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran, Russia to enhance cooperation in fight against coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Albertovich Murashko discussed ways to enhance cooperation in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian galleries prefer to continue lockdown in pandemic 

TEHRAN – Art galleries across Iran are allowed to resume activities during the new coronavirus pandemic, however, gallery owners prefer to continue the lockdown since there are no visitors, buyers, or dealers.

By Zahra Mirzafarjouyan

Dubai Expo 2020 postponement to affect UAE economy

TEHRAN– While Expo 2020 Dubai has been postponed one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, some experts believe that the postponement will have a big impact on the UAE economy and derails at least temporarily a range of tech projects.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Coronavirus brought healthcare reforms into sharp focus

TEHRAN – The coronavirus outbreak proved that one-dimensional health systems cannot survive from health-threatening crises, which occur every few years in the form of infectious diseases, a mere view of treatment is not enough, so that the need for healthcare reforms should be brought into sharp focus.

Official warns of second, third waves of coronavirus

TEHRAN – Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz, head of the Food and Drug Administration, has warned that the nation needs to prepare for a 'second and third wave' of coronavirus in October and November until a vaccine is developed.

Iranian museums to receive free internet in bid to draw more audiences

TEHRAN – All cultural heritage museums and sites across Iran will be provided with free internet access as part of a government initiative to attract more audiences, Mehr reported on Friday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Coronavirus crisis: a time for lasting togetherness

TEHRAN – In the wake of coronavirus, many people have faced difficulty earning income or finding self-protective products due to lock-down measures, but benefactors stood up and volunteering opportunities cropped up, which highly reflects that togetherness never ends.

Lesser-known Iranian province prepared to jumpstart tourism after coronavirus

TEHRAN – The tourism sector of Iran’s southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province is prepared to improve quickly after coronavirus crisis ends, provincial tourism chief Mohammad Hosseinzadeh said on Wednesday, ISNA reported.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Knowledge-based companies pushing for ‘surge in production’

TEHRAN – Iran has developed plans to support and empower knowledge-based companies as a step forward to materialize the goal of a surge in production, as the economy is grappling with the coronavirus predicament.