TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization (CHTHO) will introduce new services for foreign tourists during World Tourism Day celebration on September 27, CHTHO Deputy Director for Tourism Affairs Morteza Rahmani-Movahhed told a press conference on Sunday.

Iran plans to issue credit cards, tourist SIM cards and also insurance facilities for foreign tourists during World Tourism Day celebration at Tehran’s Milad Tower on September 27, he said.

World Tourism Day is celebrated each year on September 27. It aims to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.

“The Bank Melli of Iran already issues debit cards entitled ‘Tourist Card’ at Bank Melli’s branch of Imam Khomeini International Airport. However, other Iranian banks will introduce their services for issuing it during the event,” he explained.

Rahmani-Movahhed said that the details about the services will be announced during the celebration.

The winners of the 2nd Iran Tourism Festival, which promotes nationwide contribution of Iranians to tourism industry, will be also honored during the ceremony, he added.

Papers and lectures will also be delivered on achievements in tourism industry, he said.

Noruz Park will also host an exhibition on Iran Tourism Festival from September 23 to 27.

“Different aspects of tourism industry as well as potential cultural and local characteristics for boosting tourism will be introduced during the exhibition,” he said.

Regarding the decrease in inflation rate in Iran, the country is a low-priced destination for foreign tourists.

Iran made it onto the top destination lists of major publications such as The Financial Times and The Guardian last year thanks to sights that include 2,500-year old ruins at Persepolis near Shiraz and 16th-century Islamic architectural gems in Isfahan.

Iran is home to some of the world’s most magnificent historical and archaeological sites. Relics of a proud ancient civilization include: Persepolis, the capital of the largest empire that the world has ever seen; the city of Isfahan; Shiraz, the city of love and poetry; and Hamadan, where Avicenna, the father of early modern medicine, is buried.

UNESCO has declared 16 world heritage sites in Iran, which was historically referred to as Persia in the west until the 20th century.

SB/PA
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