TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Sunday revealed a plan based on which hospitals admitting foreign travelers will be subject to a tax exemption.

Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said the exemption would be granted to hospitals that take part in the promotion of [the upcoming] Tehran tourism fair.

“Hospitals offering services to medical tourists can benefit from tax exemption by participating in the promotion of the Tehran tourism fair,” Shalbafian said.

The official did not give further detail on the mechanism of the tax incentive, which should be approved by the national tax administration.

Available data compiled by the Health Ministry suggests the Islamic Republic hosts an average of one million medical tourists per annum.

Medical tourism in Iran, according to some experts, is a win-win opportunity both for the country and foreign patients, as they are offered affordable yet quality treatment services and the country gains considerable foreign currency.

Credible surgeons and physicians, cutting-edge medical technologies, high-tech medicine and diverse specializations, super affordable procedures, and finally its hospitable people, are considered Iran’s trump card when it comes to medical tourism.

The Islamic Republic has set goals to exceed its yearly medical travelers to around two million in [calendar year] 1404 (March 2025-March 2026).

AFM