TEHRAN - In a move to boost tourism, a delegation of travel agents from the North Caucasus region of Russia will visit Iran, to attract tourists to the country.

Ten Russian travel agents have been invited to Iran to explore attractions countrywide to organize tours for the autumn and winter seasons, Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

These agents, operating in the North Caucasus, will tour Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Qeshm from July 22 to July 29, according to the report.

Their itinerary will culminate in a business meeting at Imam Khomeini International Airport to finalize the travel plans.

This group of Russian agents is among the first to visit Iran following the visa waiver agreements. The trip is organized by an Iranian agency collaborating with the Russians.
Interest in Qeshm Island arose during the International Travel & Hospitality Show (MITT), which was held earlier this year, Mohammad Manzarnejad, who is overseeing the tour, told Mehr News Agency.
“This led to its inclusion in the tour itinerary due to favorable climate and appeal to Russian tourists,” he added.
Manzarnejad pinpointed that the tourists will have a stopover in Qeshm, experiencing ecotourism in Soheili village and exploring the Island’s Geopark

The classic tourist route in Iran, he further elaborated, which includes Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Qeshm, is among the planned destinations for tourists.

“The tour will introduce the visitors to various historical and natural sites, such as Darband, the National Museum of Iran, the historical fabric of Kashan, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Pasargadae, and Persepolis,” he brought to light.
Given Russia’s cold climate, Manzarnejad noted, the warm southern regions of Iran present an attractive travel destination. With the autumn and winter seasons approaching, the initiative aims to bring more Russian tourists from the North Caucasus to Iran, he added.

“The Muslim population in the North Caucasus shares cultural and religious affinities with Iranians, seeking travel destinations that align with their beliefs and offer a different climate,” said the tourism activist, adding that the recent launch of the Tehran-Grozny flight route by an Iranian airline, operating weekly on Mondays, further facilitates this exchange, with a week-long tour package already prepared to increase these visits.
Last year, Tehran and Moscow introduced a visa-free exchange program, allowing tour group travelers to visit without the hassle of obtaining a visa. Available data suggests that initially, the visa-simplification scheme sparked significantly more interest among Iranian tourists.

Iranian travel agencies are now focusing on bringing tourists from the North Caucasus, leveraging the region’s commercial and tourism ties with Iran and the direct flight connections that facilitate easier travel. 
XF/AM