Adel Bozdudeh plans to restage “An Accident in the City of Puppets” after pandemic 

TEHRAN – Puppeteer Adel Bozdudeh plans to restage his puppet show “An Accident in the City of Puppets” nearly fifty years after its premiere in Tehran.

Open-air recreation centers, natural landscapes open under health protocols: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Open-air recreation centers and natural landscapes have been reopened in Iran under the condition of observing health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Alireza Qorbani, world musicians release Sadi-inspired music video in pandemic 

TEHRAN – A music video inspired by Persian poet Sadi’s famous poem “The Sons of Adam Are Limbs of Each Other” has been released with the voice of Iranian vocalist Alireza Qorbani in collaboration with several Italian singers and overseas musicians during the pandemic.

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.

Tourism ministry issues guideline to curb pandemic as travels seen to rise

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has issued a guideline comprising health protocols to lessen coronavirus pandemic as many families are expected to start domestic travels during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays (May 24 and 25).

Over $300m earmarked for jobless benefits amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has allocated 12,860 billion rials (about $306 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to pay for unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic that has left many jobless in the country.

COVID-19 slashes Iran’s airport passenger traffic by 80%

TEHRAN – Passenger traffic at Iranian airports was plunged by 80 percent in the first month of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20) due to the coronavirus pandemic, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Tehran Symphony Orchestra, world musicians to release “Ode to Joy” in pandemic 

TEHRAN – The Tehran Symphony Orchestra plans to release a music video from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy” it produced along with 148 world musicians to give encouragement to people around the world in the battle with the coronavirus crisis.

Half of Iran’s hotels reopened after taking hit from coronavirus

TEHRAN – Some 50 percent of hotels across Iran have so far been reopened after the hospitality industry took a severe hit from coronavirus pandemic in both at the national and international levels.

Half-priced discounts approved for medical staff in post-coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister on Monday announced that 676 four- and five-star hotels, eco-lodge units, and hotel apartments have announced their readiness to offer half-priced discounts to medical professionals after the coronavirus pandemic is defeated.

Iranian cineastes will resume activities soon: COI 

TEHRAN – The Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) has announced on Sunday that Iranian cineastes will resume their activities in the near future as the Health Ministry has recently warned of a new wave of coronavirus in the country.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran, quakes, and tourism

Early on Friday, an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 struck Damavand county, 56km northeast of the capital Tehran, killing two and injuring 33. It made an excuse for writing a note about the impact of natural disasters, specifically earthquakes, on tourism and cultural heritage.

By Afshin Majlesi

Normal life not a distant dream as Tehran sees drop in new corona cases

The average death toll from COVID-19 pandemic in Iran has been on the decline, and also in the capital Tehran, over the past couple of weeks, thanks to a temporary lockdown introduced earlier in March.

Iran formulates coronavirus safety guidelines ahead of anticipated travel surge

TEHRAN – In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has announced new guidelines and instructions to ramp up the safety of travels across the country.

By Professor Hisae Nakanishi

Economic sanctions and novel coronavirus: What is humanity today?

Iran has faced dual and unprecedented challenges now. One is a large number of citizens infected with the novel coronavirus. The shortage of medicine and medical equipment is profound. The other challenge is how to tackle the impacts of prolonged economic sanctions.

“Words Alone Will Not Save Jobs”: UNWTO calls for action to support tourism recovery

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general of the UNITED Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has urged member states to increase pressure on world leaders to take decisive action to safeguard the millions of jobs under threat as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNWTO said in press release on Friday. 

France, the sixth economic power worldwide, unable to protect people from coronavirus impacts

The current and previous French governments, whose wrong economic policies left people alone in face of the lethal COVID-19 pandemic, should be held accountable, a senior journalist underscored.

By Ali Amiri

Developed nations can learn from developing states in coronavirus fight 

I'm working in medical equipment supplier company. I have to go to many hospitals and medical laboratories to provide their needs. Recently, I found out some points that could be very important for all health systems around the world. 

By Afshin Majlesi

How is COVID-19 affecting travel in Iran? Experts explain

TEHRAN – As you are well aware, nearly all travel businesses have been disrupted worldwide in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sadi National Day: constantly hectic mausoleum records unprecedented lockdown

TEHRAN – Photos depict mausoleum of Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi, known by his pen name Sadi, being deserted amid COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, which marks the national day of the 13th-century Iranian poet.

By Mahmood Monshipouri, professor at San Francisco State University

The post-coronavirus world order

At the earlier stages of the struggle against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, governments across the globe are still in a reaction mode and politicians are making decisions as they go.  

Post-coronavirus: Iran formulating action plan to return tourism to normal

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism has announced it is developing an action plan to get the country’s travel back on track after the threat of novel coronavirus is over. Like many other countries, Iran’s travel industry has suffered huge losses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite ‘sanctions virus’, Iran has handled pandemic better than U.S., Europe: Rouhani 

TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that despite sanctions Iran has handled the coronavirus pandemic better than certain European countries and the United States.

Garment workshops to produce medical products amid corona outbreak

TEHRAN – Five traditional costumes production workshops in Kordestan province, western Iran, have been repurposed to make protective face masks, medical caps and disposable overshoes as the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Visit holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) online

TEHRAN – COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease, might stop you from traveling, but there are still ways to see historic and religious sites in nearly every corner of the globe.

Coronavirus: National Museum of Iran hailed by online visitors

TEHRAN – Art-and-history lovers welcomed an initiative launched by the National Museum of Iran to facilitate online visits during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays.

Rural handicrafts workshop readjusted to produce face masks

TEHRAN – A handicrafts workshop in a rural area, northeast Iran, which used to produce silk textiles, has been repurposed to make protective face masks as the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Govt. to support tourist places shut over coronavirus

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has drafted a plan to support tourist places, which have been shut down over the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.