TEHRAN - More than six million foreign tourists arrived by air, road, and sea in Iran during the past Iranian calendar year, which came to an end on March 19.

“A total of 6,382,755 foreign nationals arrived in Iran during the past year,” the deputy tourism minister said on Monday.

Ali Asghar Shalbafian, the figure marks a substantial year-on-year increase compared to a year earlier (1401) in which approximately 4.23 million tourists visited the Islamic Republic.

Speaking at a coordination meeting for travel services held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the official noted that the rise has been particularly notable, indicating a shift in the ministry's policies towards easing visa requirements. 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shalbafian referred to a recent 30-percent upsurge of departure fees in the country, saying the ministry has requested that any imposed fees be allocated towards enhancing tourism infrastructure.

Last year, Iran set the stage for the unilateral abolition of visa requirements for citizens of 32 countries, which took effect on February 4.

The scheme was part of an initiative aimed at promoting tourism and easing travel restrictions for visitors from selected nations, according to Alireza Bigdeli, the deputy foreign minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates Affairs.

The official emphasized that citizens of these countries intending to explore Iran can travel without the need for visas, and they can enter the country by simply acquiring a ticket.

 “The government intends to open the country’s doors to the world…. And this decision is both courageous and deliberate by the government,” the tourism minister Ezzatollah Zarghami has said.

“The decision helps foil negative advertisements, rumors, and fear-mongering about Iran,” Zargham added. “The scheme is expected to usher in a new era of tourism development for Iran; a new chapter of prosperity and tourism development that puts an end to negative propaganda and Iranophobia.”

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.

Besides, the Islamic Republic had previously had 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 privilege has been granted to tourist groups from Russia based on a mutual agreement inked between Tehran and Moscow.

Earlier in January, Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, formerly (UNWTO), warmly welcomed Iran’s decision for border easing, expressing optimism about a vibrant future for tourism for the ancient country.

He also underscored Iran’s significant role in Asian tourism as he pointed to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage.  Pololikashvili expressed hope that the visa waiver policy would usher in a bright and prosperous future for tourism in Iran.

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