Corona is a reality but it cannot stop traveling, tourism minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Tuesday said that it is true that the coronavirus pandemic is a [bitter] reality but it cannot bring traveling to a complete standstill.

New rules for traveling to Iran to take effect Saturday

TEHRAN – New regulations and instructions for traveling to Iran will take effect tomorrow as the country is fighting back against the global spread of the coronavirus, ISNA reported on Friday.

British embassy in Tehran resumes processing visas

TEHRAN – The British embassy in Tehran in a Twitter message late on Monday announced it has resumed processing visas for Iranian applicants.

Despite resuming flights UAE not issuing visas for Iranians: report

TEHRAN – The United Arab Emirates is not issuing visas for Iranian nationals although its flag career Emirates has resumed flights to/from the Iranian capital Tehran after some six months of halt over the coronavirus pandemic, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

Iran seeking to attract millions of Chinese travelers, ex-envoy says

TEHRAN - Tehran’s ex-ambassador to Beijing has said Iran is seeking to become a tourist destination for millions of potential travelers from China as the two countries are working on a 25-year comprehensive cooperation plan that includes boosting relations in the field of tourism. 

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 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.

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.

Italy extends visa for Iranians up to 60 days

TEHRAN – The Italian government has agreed to significantly extend short-term visas for visiting Iranians, saying they will have “no problem” to stay up to 60 days more after their visa expiration dates, Tehran’s embassy in Rome has said, IRNA reported.

Tehran conference seeks to boost Iran-Azerbaijan tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran and Azerbaijan held a professional conference in Tehran on Saturday, during which high-level tourism officials, hoteliers, airline directors, and chief tour operators explored avenues to broaden tourism ties between the two neighbors.

Tehran, Moscow discuss ways to expand tourism

TEHRAN – Iran and Russia have explored avenues for deepening ties in the arena of tourism and facilitating travels between the two countries.

Iran’s flag carrier launches Asaluyeh-Doha service 

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier –IranAir – has launched new service connecting southwestern port city of Asaluyeh to Qatar’s capital, Doha, according to the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development’s portal.  

Iran proposes visa-free travel among ECO member states

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Saturday called for the Economic Cooperation Organization to consider granting visa-free travel for member states.

‘Country-size guesthouse of Iran wholeheartedly ready to receive tourists’

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Saturday issued a statement, inviting all travelers and holidaymakers to visit the ancient land, saying that the country-size guesthouse is wholeheartedly ready to receive tourists from around the world. 

Iranian winter festival highlights “Chinese New Year”

TEHRAN – A winter tourism festival opened in the Iranian city of Hamedan on Friday, concurrent with the start of the Chinese New Year, which has been selected as one of the main themes for the event.

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.

Coastal, forest tourism development plan being prepared

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts is preparing a comprehensive plan for developing tourism around coastal areas and forests in the country.

Foreign arrivals in Semnan province up 22% since March

TEHRAN – International tourist arrivals in Iran’s north-central Semnan province rose 22 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), provincial tourism chief has said.

Iranian provinces tasked to expand own overseas tourism markets

TEHRAN – In order to promote decentralization in the domestic tourism industry, each Iranian province is tasked to develop its own tourism market abroad, particularly for visitors from nearby countries.

Iranian academia to attend tourism development conference in India

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian scholars and academia along with fellows from several other counties have been invited to the 2nd Joint International Conference on Tourism, Hospitality and Sustainable Development Goals, which will be held in Hyderabad, India from February 8 to 10, 2020.

Tourism ministry’s budget seen to rise by 11.8%

TEHRAN – The budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (to start March 20, 2020) has proposed 13 trillion rials (about $310 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) for the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, an increase of 11.8 percent compared with the current year’s budget.

UNWTO ready to help Iran develop comprehensive tourism plan

TEHRAN - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is ready to extend cooperation with Iran in order to help the country develop a comprehensive tourism plan, UNWTO advisor Marcello Notarianni said on Saturday.

Tehran, Bishkek agree to ease visa rules, resume direct flights

TEHRAN – Iran and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to facilitate visa issuance and resume direct flights by the end of the current Iranian month of Azar (Dec. 21), YJC quoted Iran’s deputy transport minister Shahram Adamnejad as saying on Wednesday.

By Palash Ghosh

Iran tourism: Sector may get huge boost from China in defiance of U.S. sanctions

Despite the imposition of U.S. sanctions on various sectors of its economy, Iran is enjoying something of a boom in its tourism industry – with China possibly preparing to play a big role.

International arrivals in Iran reach 6.7 million since March

TEHRAN – Some 6.7 million foreign nationals have visited Iran since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21), IRNA reported.

Iran starts issuing electronic visas for Pakistani citizens

TEHRAN - Iran has launched an e-visa system for Pakistani citizens in order to facilitate their travels through abolishing old-fashioned paper visas.

Iranian, Chinese provinces seeking closer tourism ties

TEHRAN – The Iranian province of Isfahan and the Chinese province of Guizhou have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to lay the ground for deepening tourism ties.

Tehran welcomes Beijing's initiative to revive glory of ancient Silk Road

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said Iran backs China’s initiative for reviving the glory of ancient Silk Road, which existed for thousands of years, passing through many different empires, kingdoms, reigns and societies throughout history.

How to explore the tundra: routes and ideas

A trip to the tundra will definitely make for an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. We have compiled a list of accessible and interesting places to visit in Russia, where you can explore the real tundra. Let’s get started, or as the Russians say — Poekhali!

Tehran, Beijing hold enormous potential for tourism co-op: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Thursday called for tapping into Iran-China tourism capacity, which he referred to it as “enormous”, Fars reported on Friday.