TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister Ezzatollah Zarghami has said the impact of anti-Iran sentiments, fueled by the U.S. and some other Western powers, will be diminished by attracting more visitors to the ancient land.

The minister underlined Iran’s recent decision to waive visa requirements for 32 countries, which according to him, helped foil concerted efforts by adversaries, namely the United States and certain Western powers, to propagate Iranophobia.

Zarghami made the remarks on Saturday evening during his visit to South Khorasan province, saying the increased inflow of international tourists to Iran diminishes that fearmongering tactic.

“Despite the concerted efforts of some countries to dissuade their citizens from visiting Iran and to create a negative perception, the personal experience of tourists visiting the historical and cultural sites of Iran has effectively dispelled these apprehensions.”

“The attempts made by enemies to create Iranophobia among various nations cannot overshadow the eagerness of some foreign nationals to explore Iran's attractions,” Zarghami said.

Talking about the importance of diversifying Iran's economy away from sole reliance on oil exports, he emphasized the crucial role of tourism as a “clean industry” for the country's economic future.

“We cannot solely rely on the nation's oil resources for economic sustenance. The future economic growth of Iran is intricately tied to the flourishing tourism industry,” he added.

Last month, the Iranian government agreed to abolish visa requirements for passport holders from 32 countries and waive visas for tourist groups from Russia.

The visa-waiver program was approved for India, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Belarus, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

The Islamic Republic has previously visited cancelations with some countries like Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria, in various forms - unilateral, bilateral, and group visa cancelations, including airport visas, which were implemented in some cases.

The latest data provided by the tourism ministry suggests the number of foreign arrivals in the country reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), which shows 48.5 percent compared to that of last year.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AFM