TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism sector has witnessed a 36% surge in terms of overseas arrivals in the course of the very first two months of the current Persian year (started on March 20).

During a Tourism and Related Businesses Commission, held on Wednesday, an official in charge of tourism development brought to light that since the beginning of this [Iranian] year, foreign tourist arrivals have experienced a 36% rise, in comparison to the corresponding time a year earlier.

Moslem Shojaei stressed the necessity of identifying the primary tourism priorities, noting that the selected development capacities in each province must be competitive with other provinces in attracting foreign tourists.

“To achieve this, leveraging the capabilities of major travel agencies, foreign journalists based in Iran,” he further elaborated. “And familiarization tours can be helpful.”

Moreover, the official emphasized that the tourism sector cannot advance without private sector participation.

In his final remarks, Shojaei pinpointed that the Marketing and Tourism Development Headquarters of the Ministry is ready to provide media content produced in various provinces to foreign tourists.

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