By Afshin Majlesi

Iran tourism industry to rebound sooner than expected: deputy minister

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of Iran will get back on the right track sooner than expected thanks to measures taken to tackle the spread of coronavirus, deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said.

First medical tourism center under construction in Urmia

TEHRAN – The first medical tourism center in Urmia, northwestern West Azarbaijan province, is under construction with 30 percent completion so far. 

Iran’s ‘Taj Mahal’ marks Intl. Day for Monuments and Sites amid virus concerns

TEHRAN – As in previous years, the UNESCO-tagged Gonbad-e Soltaniyeh, sometimes referred to as Iran’s ‘Taj Mahal’, celebrated the International Day for Monuments and Sites, but this time, in an online program aimed to help stop transmission of the coronavirus, which is currently challenging the whole world.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Meet the most peculiar Iranian garden in desert

TEHRAN - Originally, it was a way to protest against the government policies but the genius plan led to the construction of something wonderful that invites thousands of visitors every year.

Pakistan plays host to joint tourism conference with Iran

TEHRAN – Attendees including Iranian and Pakistani cultural officials, diplomats and tour operators discussed ways to deepen tourism ties between the two neighboring countries in a conference held at Mehran Arts Council in Hyderabad on February 15.

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.

Fourfold rise possible in inbound medical tourists to Iran: expert

TEHRAN – An Iranian university professor and researcher believes that the country has the capacity and infrastructure to increase inbound medical travelers by as much as four fold.

Tourism minister opens 11 eco-lodges in eastern province

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Monday inaugurated eleven eco-lodges during his visit to the eastern South Khorasan province.

Find out why medical tourism is to be big business in Iran

Nowadays, medical tourism is considered as a booming industry on the global scene as some 20 to 24 million patients are traveling for medical treatments annually. Estimates on market size vary but the Patients Without Borders publishing group puts its value at around €60 to €80 billion worldwide.

Tehran, Kabul discuss ways to broaden medical tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iranian and Afghan officials on Saturday exchanged views on ways to deepen health cooperation in a wide-ranging arenas, including medical tourism, education and student scholarships.

Pakistani health tourists encouraged to visit Iran

TEHRAN – A Pakistani health official has encouraged patients to travel to Iran for benefiting from the neighboring country’s experience in this sector.

22 medical tourism firms authorized in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Health has so far granted licenses to 22 medical tourism companies with the aim of organizing authorized facilitators for the booming business.

Foreign travelers not deterred by Iranophobia: tourism official

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Monday said that anti-Iranian sentiment or Iranophobia, which has long been forged and spread by some Western governments and media, has not prevented foreign travelers from visiting the country.

Indian journalists on fam tour across Iran 

TEHRAN - A delegation of Indian journalists and media personnel has commenced a familiarization tour across Iran with the aim of getting acquainted with its medical tourism potentials, tourist destinations, natural landscapes, local people and their traditions.

Iran to attend Tashkent international tourism expo

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian exhibitors will attend the 25th Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF 2019) --“Tourism on the Silk Road” – which will be held in the capital city of Uzbekistan from November 13 to 15, Fars reported on Thursday. 

Tehran, Muscat in talks to waive visas for visitors from Iran

TEHRAN - Iran has officially lifted the visa requirement for Omani nationals and now the two countries are in talks to do the same for Iranian travelers.

Iran, Oman seek to bolster health tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan on Monday met with his Omani counterpart Ahmed bin Nasser al-Mahrizi in Muscat, discussing ways to promote bilateral ties particularly in the arena of health and medical tourism.

Exhibit of Iranian handicrafts opens in Muscat

TEHRAN – An exhibition of handicrafts, featuring wide-ranging works by Iranian artisans, is underway at the Al Bustan Palace, a 5-star luxury hotel in Muscat.

Iran’s travel balance remains positive in H1

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel balance remained positive in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), deputy tourism minister said on Monday.

‘Tehran holds potential to become a hub for health tourism’

TEHRAN – Tehran has the potential to become a hub for health (and medical) tourism, Tehran province governor-general has said.

2,451 tourism projects worth $47b underway: minister

TEHRAN – A total of 2,451 tourism-related projects worth 2,000 trillion rials (about $47 billion) are being implemented across the country, tourism chief said on Thursday.

Tehran hosting congress on medical tourism in Islamic world

TEHRAN - The 4th International Health Congress of Islamic Countries started at Tehran’s Homa Hotel on Wednesday with the aim of promoting health and medical tourism among the Islamic countries.

Tehran to host 4th Intl. Health Congress of Islamic Countries

TEHRAN – The 4th International Health Congress of Islamic Countries, which is aimed to bring together senior scholars, academia, and experts from the public and private sectors, will be held in Tehran’s Homa Hotel from October 9 to 11.

Irish travel agencies on fam tour across Iran

TEHRAN – A delegation comprising representatives of renowned Irish travel agencies and media outlets have commenced a ten-day familiarization tour across Iran with the aim of getting acquainted with its potential in terms of medical tourism, tourist destinations, natural landscapes, local people and their traditions.

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).

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.

Iran draws a record 600,000 medical travelers in four months

TEHRAN – Iran hosted a record high of nearly 600,000 medical travelers during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 21), nearly equal to the figure for the whole past year (March 2018-19), according to an Iranian association for the health tourism promotion.

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.

Health tourism: Iran is the world capital of rhinoplasty

TEHRAN – If you have chosen Iran as your destination for rhinoplasty, you need to know that you’re traveling to the world’s capital of rhinoplasty, ISNA cited in a recent article.

70,000 foreign patients admitted to Iranian hospitals last year

TEHRAN- Iranian hospitals admitted 70,000 foreign patients over the last [Iranian calendar] year (March 2018 – March 2019), said the head of medical tourism department at the Ministry of Health.