TEHRAN—About 2,400 tourism-related projects worth 4 quadrillion rials ($6.5 billion) are currently underway across Iran, the deputy tourism minister said on Saturday.

“At present, there are 2,400 tourism projects worth four quadrillion rials under construction all over the country,” Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony of the Risbaf Factory in Isfahan, Shalbafian highlighted the government's significant progress in the tourism sector. “Since the beginning of the 13th Iranian government, 1,610 tourism projects have been completed,” he said.

Shalbafian noted that 81 of these projects, with a combined investment of approximately 970 trillion rials, have achieved over 80% physical progress.

The Risbaf Factory in Isfahan, which had been closed since the 2000s due to debt to Bank Melli, was reopened on Saturday, May 18, coinciding with International Museum Day. The ceremony saw the presence of provincial and city officials, alongside cultural heritage enthusiasts from Isfahan.

This reopening, according to the official, marks a significant milestone in Iran's efforts to boost tourism and preserve its cultural heritage.

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.

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.

AM