TEHRAN – Foreign tourists will soon be able to drive their own cars to Iran, the deputy tourism minister has said.

A plan is being developed by the tourism ministry to allow tourists from different countries, including neighboring countries, to travel to Iran by car, IRNA quoted Ali-Asghar Shalbafian as saying on Tuesday.

It is also important to waive visas between Iran and some other countries in order to boost tourism in the country, which needs to be seriously pursued, the official added.

Back in June, the official announced that citizens from the neighboring countries had been the main source of tourism for Iran.

“A turning point in the country’s tourism trend in the post-coronavirus period is the welcoming of tourists from neighboring countries,” he explained.

Last year the tourism ministry announced that the tourism of the country was growing before the corona outbreak, its revenues reached $11.7 billion in 2019, which accounted for 2.8% of GDP, nearing the average share of tourism in the world GDP, which was 3.2 percent.

Iran was ranked as the second fastest-growing country in tourism based on data compiled by the World Tourism Organization in 2019. 

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 26 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, Iran aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

ABU/AM