TEHRAN – In celebration of World Tourism Day and the start of Iran’s Tourism Week, 167 tourism-related projects have officially been inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Tourism Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri.

The projects, with a combined investment of over 100 trillion rials (approximately $166 million), are set to create employment for 2,300 people, CHTN reported on Monday.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Saturday at a newly constructed hotel in Tehran, one of the 167 projects, and was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Ali Darabi, the deputy minister of cultural heritage, and Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, the deputy minister of tourism.

A number of private sector representatives, investors, and tourism industry veterans also participated in the event.

The projects, which span 31 provinces, include 29 hotels and hotel apartments, 69 guesthouses, 24 traditional restaurants, 16 tourism complexes, and 29 other tourism-related facilities.

They add 712,000 square meters of space to the country’s tourism infrastructure, introducing 1,651 new rooms, 4,445 beds, and 70 guesthouses to the national tourism sector.

Addressing the ceremony, Salehi-Amiri emphasized the importance of continued investment in tourism industry of the country.

Currently, 2,700 additional tourism projects are underway nationwide. Once completed, these projects are expected to generate over 100,000 jobs, highlighting the need for a unified national effort involving the government and private sector to boost tourism in Iran.

Salehi-Amiri has recently emphasized that tourism is a priority for the country. “With our vast historical sites, beautiful natural landscapes, and a culture of hospitality, Iran has immense potential as a travel destination,” he said.

Iran’s tourism industry witnessed a 21% upsurge in 2023, signaling a strong recovery in the post-COVID-19, according to data compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council. According to the WTTC, the increase was part of a broader recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the industry plummet by 45% in 2020.

In comparison, the years 2021 and 2022 boasted growth rates of 40% and 39%, the data revealed.   As per records, Iran’s tourism sector not only expanded its share to 4.7% of the national economy in 2023 but also boosted its market value to 7400 trillion rials.

The rate of employment in this sector grew by 10.3%, with 1.6 million people working in tourism, which accounts for 6.6% of the country's total employment, according to the WTTC report.  Furthermore, WTTC forecasts that in 2024, the tourism industry in the Islamic Republic will continue its upward trajectory with a predicted growth of 12.1%, potentially reaching a market value of 8300 trillion rials.  As revealed by the annual report, foreign tourists in Iran spent a substantial 700 trillion rials in 2023, showcasing an 83.6% increase compared to the previous year.

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 28 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AM