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. 

Nakhchivan to lift visa requirements for Iranian travelers

TEHRAN – The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is to waive visa requirements for tourists from Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran at the height of travel season

TEHRAN – Perhaps it is tough to define a best time for visiting Iran, which is known as a four-season country, I mean spring, summer, fall and winter; each having its own charms and travel lovers.

More Russian travelers getting interested in Iran: ATOR

TEHRAN – Iran, as an open-air museum of cultural heritage, is steadily attracting the attention of more Russians, Maya Lomidze, president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), has said.

Turkish arrivals in Iran rising

TEHRAN - Iran’s deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said the number of Turkish arrivals in Iran has increased by 35 percent over the past year.

Kazakhstan considering to ease visa rules for Iranians

TEHRAN - Kazakhstan is considering to ease visa rules for Iranian traders and travelers as of the next spring, Kazakh ambassador to Tehran Askhat Orazbay has said.

Iran, Armenia seek to deepen tourism ties through signed agreements

TEHRAN – A delegation of Armenian economic, tourism and media representatives has arrived in Iran, exploring ways to deepen bilateral ties thanks to previous agreements signed by the two neighbors over the past three decades.

Chinese arrivals on the rise in Iran

TEHRAN - The number of Chinese arrivals in Iran has increased as of late June since the country allowed visa-free entry for visitors from China, deputy tourism minister has said.

Tehran, Bern ink MOU on tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iran and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand cooperation in the tourism sector, CHTN reported.

Tehran ready to relax visa policy for Kyrgyz tourists

TEHRAN – Iran is ready to ease visa regulations for Kyrgyzstani nationals in a bid to boost tourism, First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri has said.