TEHRAN - Iran has approved a proposal to provide special SIM cards to foreign visitors, a move that eliminates its Internet restrictions aimed at boosting tourism.

Under the plan, unrestricted SIM cards will be provided to international tourists visiting the Islamic Republic, the deputy tourism minister Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, the official underlined (that the revival of Iran’s COVID-hit) tourism is a priority in the plan, and for the first phase, a list of travel agencies will be provided with unrestricted Internet.

It is expected that some local travel insiders, such as hotel staff and tour guides, will be provided with such a privilege.

Earlier this year, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami emphasized that providing free access to the Internet is a “necessity” for foreign tourists.

The minister’s words, however, have a history. Last year, in response to Internet limitations, he became the first senior official to propose special SIM cards for tourists.

The Islamic Republic, due to some considerations, has restricted its people’s access to Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and social media websites such as TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. However, tech-savvy citizens or the ones buying virtual private networks (VPNs) may bypass the curbs.

AFM