TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism industry has witnessed a 21% upsurge in 2023, signaling a strong recovery in the post-COVID-19, data compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council suggests.  According to the WTTC, the increase is part of a broader recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the industry plummet by 45% in 2020. 

In comparison, the years 2021 and 2022 boasted growth rates of 40% and 39%, the data revealed.   As per records, Iran’s tourism sector not only expanded its share to 4.7% of the national economy in 2023 but also boosted its market value to 7400 trillion rials.
The rate of employment in this sector grew by 10.3%, with 1.6 million people working in tourism, which accounts for 6.6% of the country's total employment, according to the WTTC report.  Furthermore, WTTC forecasts that in 2024, the tourism industry in the Islamic Republic will continue its upward trajectory with a predicted growth of 12.1%, potentially reaching a market value of 8300 trillion rials.  As revealed by the annual report, foreign tourists in Iran spent a substantial 700 trillion rials in 2023, showcasing an 83.6% increase compared to the previous year.

Domestic tourists also spent significantly, with expenditures amounting to 4939 trillion rials, marking an 18.7% increase from 2022. Regarding international visitors, Iraqi tourists topped the list, followed by Turkish tourists, who constituted 11% of all foreign visitors in 2023, according to the WTTC report.

The World Travel and Tourism report also brought to light that the number of tourists from Turkey more than doubled compared to the year earlier. Tourists from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Lebanon followed, contributing 7%, 6%, and 3% to the visitor statistics.  The WTTC report also highlighted that 97.7% of all tourist visits in Iran were for leisure purposes, while 2.3% were for business, indicating the country's strong appeal as a tourist destination.

As mentioned by Iran’s tourism ministry, 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.
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 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 has 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.

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.

XF/AM