Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari tourism loses $90m from COVID-19 

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of the southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province has taken over 3.7 trillion rials ($90 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) hit from the coronavirus outbreak so far.

Lufthansa to resume Vienna-Tehran flights 

TEHRAN – German airline Lufthansa is scheduled to resume flights from the Austrian capital, Vienna, to Tehran following months of suspension over the coronavirus outbreak. 

Coronavirus causes $64m damage to Markazi province tourism

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of Markazi province has taken some 2.7 trillion rials ($64.2 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) hit from the coronavirus outbreak over the past year, the provincial tourism chief said on Monday. 

Ecotourism, an opportunity for travel lovers during coronavirus pandemic

TEHRAN –It’s been almost a year since the beginning of the global outbreak of the coronavirus, which forced the world to stop and drop everything.

Museum of Qasr Prison offers virtual voyages in history and arts  

TEHRAN – With many arts institutions closed around Iran, the Museum of the Qasr Prison is another cultural institute that re-starts offering virtual tours using tour guides.

Coronavirus costs Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari’s handicraft sector $3.5m

TEHRAN – The handicraft sector of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province has suffered 150 billion rials (over $3.5 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) from the coronavirus pandemic over the previous months.

Iran gets ready for two-week coronavirus closure

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control will implement a plan, according to which all occupations, except for emergency services and basic food suppliers, will be closed for two weeks in more than 100 cities in an attempt to curb the coronavirus.

Coronavirus causes $42m damage to Iran’s museums

TEHRAN - Iranian museums have taken 1.7 trillion rials (some $42 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) hit from the coronavirus outbreak over the previous months.

43 cities in Iran go into tough coronavirus lockdown

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control started strict restrictions for a week as of Monday in 43 cities that have the highest rate of infection in the country.

Over 170 MOUs signed to develop Ali Sadr Cave tourism

TEHRAN – Some 174 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been inked since the beginning of the current Iranian year 1399 (started on March 20) to develop tourism and increase visitors to Ali Sadr Cave.

Khuzestan loses tourism peak seasons over flood, coronavirus outbreak

TEHRAN- The southwestern province of Khuzestan has lost two main tourism peak seasons over flood and the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said.

Four European countries set rules for inbound Iranian travelers 

TEHRAN – Although Iranian airlines have resumed their flights to some European countries following months of suspension over the coronavirus outbreak, there is still no possibility of unnecessary tourist trips to these countries and Schengen visas are not currently issued to Iranian citizens.

Coronavirus shuts Yazd’s museums, historical sites once again

TEHRAN- All museums and historical sites of six cities in the central province of Yazd have gone on lockdown again until further notice following the increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus, an official in charge of the province’s museums and historical properties has said.

Coronavirus: Iran to introduce all-inclusive health protocols for inbound travelers

TEHRAN- Iran will unveil all-inclusive health protocols for inbound travelers within the next week, as the country is still fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Mohammad Qasemi, the director for marketing and advertising at the tourism ministry, announced on Sunday.

Over 200 historical monuments restored in central Iran

TEHRAN – Over 200 aging structures and buildings have been restored across Yazd province, central Iran, since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year 1399 (March 20).

Museums lose 90% of revenues in wake of coronavirus outbreak 

TEHRAN- Iranian museums have lost 90 percent of their revenues due to the consecutive closures caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, Mohammadreza Kargar, the tourism ministry’s director of museums and historical properties, has said. 

Coronavirus gives kiss of death to once flourishing medical tourism in Mashhad

TEHRAN- While the developing health tourism industry, which is one of the most important fields of Iran’s travel sector, was trying to prove its capabilities and capacities in attracting medical and health tourists to the country, the global coronavirus pandemic put a sudden stop to everything.

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.

Tehran museums reopen after weeklong halt

TEHRAN – Museums in Tehran have reopened their doors to the public after one week of closure following the increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus, ILNA reported.

Iran sends anti-corona medical aid to Iraq

TEHRAN – Iran has delivered a consignment of medical equipment weighing one ton to Iraq to help the neighboring country fight the coronavirus, Iraj Masjedi, Iranian Ambassador to Iraq has announced.

Visits to Kermanshah tourist sites plummet as coronavirus forces travel curbs

TEHRAN – Some 32,000 travelers visited historical and tourist sites across Kermanshah province during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20), a sharp decline compared to around 232,000 visits in the same period last year as travel curbs were imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

Kindergartens reopen after 4 months of lockdown

TEHRAN – After four-months of lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, kindergartens across the country began their activities observing social distancing rules and health protocols, Mehr reported.

Coronavirus may move travel into ‘the realm of luxury’ in Iran

TEHRAN – The coronavirus pandemic may turn tours and travels in Iran into luxury items as observing health protocols will rise the cost of travel in the country, Mohammad Ali Vaqefi, the vice president of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, has warned.

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.

Border trade resumed between Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan

TEHRAN- Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan region resumed trade via land border, which had been stopped for several weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Craftspeople produce 700,000 face masks for free 

TEHRAN – Some 700,000 protective face masks have been produced and distributed for free by two handicrafts workshops in the central Isfahan province during the past two months. 

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Why Iran, unlike others, held mass prayers successfully amid pandemic?

TEHRAN – With the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, the governments around the world announced restrictions on social and religious gatherings, but some religious people started to violate the rules endangering others’ lives. However, Iranians reacted positively and observed health protocols outlined by the government standards even during Ahya nights.

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.