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Iran, Russia to remove obstacles on tourism industry

Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, and Head of Russian Federal Agency for Tourism emphasized tourism development between the two countries to remove possible barriers for the tourists. At a meeting on Monday, the two sides called to implementation of tourism agreements between the two countries as soon as possible and remove possible barriers to the tourists from the two countries. Mounesan said: "Facilitating the movement of tourists has been one of the important policies of Iran to calculate the income from it in GDP." Mounesan emphasized Iran moved from historical and cultural tourism to ecotourism because Iran also has eye-catching natural beauties in addition to historical and cultural attractions. The Minister said: "We launched ecotourism and rural and agriculture tourism, and the target countries were also identified. Before Corona, we had 10 million tourists from Iran, 65,000 of whom traveled to Russia. Zarina Doguzova, the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, also said that it is necessary to increase tourists to the two countries due to the warm relations between the two countries and the excellent tourism capacities. Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan arrived in Moscow on Sunday to sign a deal on lifting individual visa requirements for tourist groups, Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday. "Today, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan is arriving in Moscow to sign an agreement on lifting visa requirements for tourist groups," the ambassador wrote. According to the diplomat, under the deal, tourists of both countries will be able to travel to Iran and Russia through accredited companies, and the entire group will receive one visa. Jalali stressed that tourism is a foundation for developing Iranian-Russian ties.

Create: Jun 8, 2021 Edit: Jun 8, 2021 Regional News

Iran Pres inaugurates tourism, cultural projects across country

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated several big cultural and tourism projects with 2,537 billion tomans of investment in different parts of the country Thursday. The inauguration ceremony was held through a video conference based in Tehran. The projects which are located in north and west of the country will provide employment for 2,697 people. A five star hotel in the gracious landscape of Heiran as well as renovation project of Amjad palace in Talesh both located in the northern province of Gilan are among the projects inaugurated today. 33 Renovation projects together with two major tourism centers in western province of Lorestan were also officially opened by President Rouhani today. At the ceremony, the president appreciated good efforts made to boost tourism industry. Also, he hoped that tourism would enter new conditions after public vaccination slated for final months of the Iranian calendar year which started on March 21. At his remarks, the president referred to return of 2,723 Iranian historical works and antiques from US and Europe to the country during past eight years. As he stressed, such return was kind of fulfillment of the Iranian people's rights. Every week, the president opens several important projects on petrochemicals, oil, industry, tourism, sports, infrastructure, development and health to follow goals behind "Surge in Production" which is the name of the past Iranian year (March 20, 2020- March 20, 2021) declared by the Supreme Leader.

Create: May 28, 2021 Edit: May 28, 2021 Regional News

Tourism minister cuts ribbon on traditional restaurant

Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Monday inaugurated a traditional restaurant during his visit to Sari, the capital of the northern Mazandaran province. Constructed in a piece of land covering 834 square meters in area, the traditional restaurant is expected to generate 18 job opportunities, CHTN reported. The minister was scheduled to inaugurate 78 tourism-related projects -- virtually or in-person -- during his two-day visit to the northern province, the report added. Last year, Iran joined an online campaign launched by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to promote gastronomy as an essential part of tourism. Experts say that food is not merely an organic product with biochemical compositions. For members of each community, food is defined as a cultural element. The Iranian cuisine, usually embellished with fragrant herbs, varies from region to region, however, it principally accentuates freshness, deliciousness, and colorfulness. Dizi (a lamb, chickpea, and potato stew made to a centuries-old recipe), fesenjoon (chicken poached in an earthy sweet-and-sour sauce of ground walnuts and pomegranates) are amongst the most popular traditional dishes of the country. Traditional Iranian dishes are usually not overpowered with spices though kitchens are embraced with ranges of subtle and yet contrasting flavors such as a combination of sweet and sour or mild. Stretched along the Caspian Sea and Alborz mountain range, Mazandaran is a popular destination for domestic holidaymakers and it is home to more than 3500 villages and rural areas.

Create: May 26, 2021 Edit: May 26, 2021 Regional News

Khorramshahr, a prime destination for war tourism

In the past, war tourism destinations were mainly the object of interest of photojournalists appearing solely on pages of crime, but now they can be traced in top travel books and websites. Whatever you call it, from war tourism, dark tourism, disaster tourism, or danger tourism, Iran has more to offer after being involved in the second-longest war of the 20th-century after the Vietnam War. Amongst many border cities directly involved in the 1980–1988 war, Khorramshahr is highly honored as a symbol of resistance during the war against Iraqi invaders. Moreover, the port city is high on the ‘will go’ index of adventure travelers interested in such niche tourism. At this time of the year, Iranians hold special ceremonies to honor the fallen soldiers and to cherish the strength and resistance of the people during “the Sacred Defense Week”, starting on Shahrivar 31 (September 21 this year) when Iraqi armed forces invaded western Iran. The third of Khordad (May 24) marks the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr from Saddam Hussein’s invading army back in May 1982 when Iranians laid another foundation for sacrifice, resistance, and final victory with their blood. Iranian forces recaptured the southwestern strategic port city in a landmark operation code-named Beit ol-Moqaddas. According to Sajad Goharpak, the tourism chief of Khorramshahr, 25 spots have so far been identified in the port city which makes it a noteworthy destination when it comes to war tourism. “Khorramshahr is so great that right now we are facing a museum city because countless incidents took place in every neighborhood of the city.” For now, the country has largely been restored, and very few signs of the war, apart from street names and murals of the martyrs on some streets, can be found. These are the areas where domestic travelers usually go by tour packages are called “Rahiane Nour” (“The Path of Light”). For those interested to visit an epitome of frontlines elsewhere from the former battlefields, Tehran embraces several destinations; the Sacred Defense Museum, Tehran Peace Museum, and Behesht-e Zahra—a graveyard where many of the martyrs are buried. The epic-scale Sacred Defense Museum does bargain something different in modern Iranian history where you can delve into wreckages of rockets, tanks, rifles, vessels, mortars, radars, air defense systems, grounded jets, military supplies, and artillery pieces amongst others. The museum is equipped with a state-of-the-art visual system including projections and video walls, while audio recordings relevant to each period contribute to its charm. The recreation of the liberation of the city of Khorramshahr by the means of virtual exhibits and video projections is amongst the main features of the museum where stands a replica of the Khorramshahr mosque adorned with creamy and turquoise patterned tiles. Some tourists say they are not just interested in visiting live or former warzones out of curiosity. What motivates them is guessing the stories of people who lost their lives, being displaced, wounded, captured, or lost their loved ones in those bitter moments of the history of mankind.

Create: May 25, 2021 Edit: May 25, 2021 Regional News

Iran could become hub for ‘vaccine tourism

Iran has the potential to become a destination for vaccine tourism regarding considerable efforts the country is making to develop series of domestic COVID-19 vaccines, the tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said. There is a capacity to add ‘vaccine tourism’ to the ‘health tourism basket’ of the country after all [Iranian] people are received vaccines…. and the move could fuel a boom in the tourism sector of the country.” In the near future, we will possess the capacity to provide foreigner travelers with the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those from the neighboring countries,” Mounesan said. The Islamic Republic is among the first countries which started developing a vaccine against coronavirus, and now four companies are endeavoring to release their products by September and inoculate the whole population. Out of 16 vaccine production cases, four cases have received a code of ethics and are undergoing clinical trial; it is hoped that another three to four cases will succeed in receiving license by September. According to available data compiled by the tourism ministry, the number of foreign visitors to Iran plunged 94% in the first nine months of the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2021) as the coronavirus pandemic takes a heavy toll on the tourism industry. The coronavirus epidemic has ruined more than 1.5 million jobs in Iran’s travel sector, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said in December. “Over 1.5 million jobs have been lost in the tourism sector of Iran due to the COVID-19 disease…. Many of the tourism-insiders are now unemployed or they are staying at home,” according to Mounesan. Tourism [industry of Iran] was growing before the corona [outbreak], its revenues reached $11.7 billion in 2019, which accounted for 2.8% of GDP, near the average share of tourism in the world GDP, which was 3.2 percent, the minister explained. The ancient land embraces hundreds of historical sites such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: May 24, 2021 Edit: May 25, 2021 Regional News

Over 100 years of Iranian postage stamps under one roof at newly-established museum

Various collections of the Iranian postage stamps issued since the Qajar era (1789–1925) onwards have been put on show at a newly-established museum in the historical city of Tabriz, the capital of East Azarbaijan province. Setting up inside the 200-year-old mansion (locally named “Khaneh Mojtahediha”), the museum was officially inaugurated on Saturday during a ceremony attended by Ramezanali Sobhanifar, the managing director of the National Post Company, and several local officials, IRNA reported. Furthermore, the museum turns the spotlight on the progress of communication and information technology tools in the country, showcasing numerous items from horse-drawn carts, scales, post boxes, as well as antique telephones and radios. Iran is one of the world’s pioneers in rendering postal services which dates from about 2,500 years ago. The modern post was launched more than one-hundred and fifty years ago by Amir Kabir, who was chief minister to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. The historical city of Tabriz became the capital of the Mongol Il-Khan Mahmud Gazan (1295–1304) and his successor. Timur (Tamerlane), a Turkic conqueror, took it in 1392. Some decades later the Kara Koyunlu Turkmen made it their capital, it was when the famous Blue Mosque was built in Tabriz. The city retained its administrative status under the Safavid dynasty until 1548 when Shah Tahmasp I relocated his capital westward to Qazvin. During the next two centuries, Tabriz changed hands several times between Persia and Ottoman Empire. During World War I, the city was temporarily occupied by Turkish and then Soviet troops.

Create: May 24, 2021 Edit: May 24, 2021 Regional News

Iran considers opening borders to vaccinated travelers

Iran is weighing plans to open its borders to vaccinated tourists though it isn’t yet clear exactly when tourists will be allowed to arrive. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts have already started extensive consultations with other government ministries for the reopening of borders to vaccinated travelers, the deputy minister Vali Teymouri said on Wednesday. “One of the issues that we are pursuing strongly through various committees is the arrival of international citizens who have been vaccinated so that won’t pose a threat or concern to the Iranian society,” the official said. “We have put forward the proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and to the President (Hassan Rouhani) as well.” He went on to say that other countries are planning to open borders to vaccinated tourists. “We estimate that soon, various tourist destinations in the world, including the European Union, will open their doors to international tourists implementing a vaccine-passport approach….” Earlier in March, the Head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association Ebrahim Pourfaraj asked the government to issue tourist visas for the international applicants who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “The Ministry of Health and the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control can at least agree that the international tourists who have received the [second dose of] coronavirus vaccine would be allowed to enter Iran,” Pourfaraj said. He also lamented that the continuation of such a trend would result in losing international tourist markets more than before. “Or at least they should make it clear so that we can respond appropriately to foreign companies and tourists to not to miss the international tourist markets more than before,” he said. According to available data compiled by the tourism ministry, the number of foreign visitors to Iran plunged 94% in the first nine months of the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2021) as the coronavirus pandemic takes a heavy toll on the tourism industry. “Some 450,000 foreign travelers arrived in Iran for mainly medical or trade purposes during the first nine months of the year… tightened measures to tackle the new coronavirus has reduced international travel to the country by 94 percent,” Teymouri said. The coronavirus epidemic has ruined more than 1.5 million jobs in Iran’s travel sector, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said in December. “Over 1.5 million jobs have been lost in the tourism sector of Iran due to the COVID-19 disease…. Many of the tourism-insiders are now unemployed or they are staying at home,” Mounesan said. Smart and responsible traveling should replace “do not travel” recommendations, the minister stressed, adding: “In our country, Corona has caused problems in the tourism industry and the worrying point is the continuation of this trend.” Tourism [industry of Iran] was growing before the corona [outbreak], its revenues reached $11.7 billion in 2019, which accounted for 2.8% of GDP, near the average share of tourism in the world GDP, which was 3.2 percent, the minister explained. The ancient land embraces hundreds of historical sites such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: May 24, 2021 Edit: May 24, 2021 Regional News

Collaboration of nations to deepen Iran-Russia relations

Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan said in a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagarian here on Tuesday evening that deepening the bilateral relations is possible through collaboration between the two nations. Tehran favors further improvement of comprehensive bilateral relations with Russia, but this is possible through upgrading the two nations’ ties, said Mounesan. Referring to his first visit to Russia, the Iranian official said the signing of the Shared Action Program and lifting the visa requirement for tourist groups of both countries are among the most important steps taken in that respect. Ambassador Jagarian, too, in the meeting referred to the ongoing visit of a group of Russian tourism industry activists in Iran and noted that the group in its visit identified Iran’s tourism potentials and is scheduled to depart for Russia tomorrow (on Wednesday). The Russian tourists are very eager to visit unexplored and adventurist destinations, and Iran with its historical background, natural attractions and unique potentials in ecotourism is an appropriate destination for them,” he said, referring to the Russians’ enthusiasm for visiting Iran.

Create: May 19, 2021 Edit: May 19, 2021 Regional News

Intl. travels fall by 80% in Iran due to coronavirus

The average of international travels to and from Iran fell by 80 percent during the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on March 20, 2021) from a year earlier. “During this period, 4,343,163 passengers entered the country, which included 3,030,464 Iranian passengers and 512,699 international travelers,” Mehr quoted Arezou Ghaniun, an official with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Customs Administration, as saying on Saturday. “From the beginning of 1399 to the end of it, we saw a significant reduction in passenger traffic to the country or vice versa in land, sea, rail and air borders, which were caused by various coronavirus restrictions.” International tourist arrivals to Iran plunged 72% during the first eight months of the year when compared to 2019, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organization. Restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hit global tourism hard, with the latest data from the UNWTO showing a 70% fall in international arrivals for the first eight months of 2020. Iran, however, has experienced different rates of downfall for inbound passengers over the past months. In the first three months of 2020 (January, February, March), the tourism industry of the country recorded negative rates of 90, 92, and 94 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the organization. The fall reached 96 and 97 percent in April and May. And in June, a negative 84% was recorded. But the interesting point in the statistics published by the World Tourism Organization is a steep slope of the improvement of Iran’s tourism arrivals during the last two months, as such growth has leaped 35% in July and August. Optimistic forecasts, expect the country would achieve a tourism boom after coronavirus contained, believing its impact would be temporary and short-lived for a country that ranked the third fastest-growing tourism destination in 2019. According to the newest UNWTO Barometer, international arrivals plunged 81% in July and 79% in August, traditionally the two busiest months of the year and the peak of the Northern Hemisphere summer season. The drop until August represents 700 million fewer arrivals compared to the same period in 2019 and translates into a loss of US$ 730 billion in export revenues from international tourism. This is more than eight times the loss experienced on the back of the 2009 global economic and financial crisis. “This unprecedented decline is having dramatic social and economic consequences, and puts millions of jobs and businesses at risk,” warned UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This underlines the urgent need to safely restart tourism, in a timely and coordinated manner”. UNWTO’s Panel of Experts foresees a rebound in international tourism in the current year, mostly in the third quarter. However, some experts suggest the rebound could occur only in 2022. Travel restrictions are seen as the main barrier standing in the way of the recovery of international tourism, along with slow virus containment and low consumer confidence. The lack of coordinated response among countries to ensure harmonized protocols and coordinated restrictions, as well as the deteriorating economic environment, were also identified by experts as important obstacles for recovery. 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 24 being 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.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional News

Tehran, Yerevan discuss ways to deepen tourism ties

Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage. The officials exchanged views on how to boost travel when the coronavirus is controlled with help of vaccines. “We are ready to increase the tourism ties between the two countries. It seems, within the next few months, the tourism sector would resume as [COVID-19] vaccination is underway worldwide,” Mounesan said. The Iranian minister attached great importance to tourism as a tool, which can foster peace and friendship between various nations. “We pay special attention to tourism with our neighbors because we believe tourism, in addition to economic matters, helps to promote friendship between the nations. Such relationship with Armenia has been improved after the [implementation of] a visa waiver [program].” The envoy, for his part, said many Armenians are not being introduced to Iran’s attractions. “The people of Armenia do not know much about Iran's tourist attractions, if [enough] information is provided and tourism officials and tour operators of the two countries work in this regard, they would be interested in traveling to Iran.” Joint work on the restoration of historical sites and monuments was another issue discussed in the Tehran meeting. “The arena of Iranian cultural heritage is important to us because it dates back to thousands of years ago,” Toumanian said. “We have good experience in the field of intangible cultural heritage and there are many similarities between the two countries in this regard. Armenian specialists can also help to restore the engravings of Iranian churches,” the ambassador explained. Talking about the coexistence of religions in Iran, Mounesan said: “In different cities of Iran, including Yazd, there are places of worship for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, which makes a nation proud. We have even managed to register several churches on the World Heritage list.” Armenian churches To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim. St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh and green lands of northwest Iran and are important pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others from across the globe. Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts of Maku. The name narratively originates from a famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.

Create: May 13, 2021 Edit: May 13, 2021 Regional News

Vast tourism complex under construction near Tehran

A vast tourism complex is being constructed in Pakdasht, near the Iranian capital, Pakdasht’s tourism chief has said. The project is expected to create 330 job opportunities directly, Asadollah Tajik added. The complex, which covers an area of 3,200 square meters, includes a traditional restaurant, traditional bathhouse, flower market, conference halls, museums, and accommodation units, the official explained. The project is scheduled to be completed within the next five years, he said. He also noted that establishing such complexes could boost tourism in the region. Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snowcapped Alborz Mountains, Tehran is much more than a chaotic jumble of concrete and crazy traffic blanketed by a miasma of air pollution. This is the nation's dynamic beating heart and the place to get a handle on modern Iran and what its future will likely be. The metropolis has many to offer its visitors including Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar, Treasury of National Jewels, National Museum of Iran, Glass & Ceramic Museum, Masoudieh Palace, Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Carpet Museum of Iran, to name a few. The first time Tehran is mentioned in historical accounts is in an 11th-century chronicle in which it is described as a small village north of Ray. It became the capital city of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century but later declined with factional strife between different neighborhoods and the Mongol invasion of 1220. Photo: File photo depicts construction workers at a building site in Tehran.

Create: May 11, 2021 Edit: May 11, 2021 Regional News

400 beds to be added to accommodation capacity of Yazd

A total of 400 beds is expected to be added to the accommodation capacity of the touristic Yazd province, a local official announced on Wednesday. Ten tourism projects, which are composed of hotels and other lodging centers, are under construction across Yazd province, the official said. “Construction work has been finished on two of the projects, and the rest are complete by 70 to 90 percent.” “200 [hotel] rooms and 400 beds will be added to the accommodation capacity of Yazd when the projects come on stream,” the official said. The central province is usually referred to as a delightful place to stay, or a “don't miss” destination by almost all of its visitors. The city is home to thousands of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape. In July 2017, the historical structure of the capital city of Yazd was named a UNESCO World Heritage. Wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kavir and the southern Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain, the oasis city enjoys a very harmonious public-religious architecture that dates from different eras. Yazd is known today for its traditional districts, the qanat system, traditional houses, bazaars, hammams, water cisterns, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and the historic garden of Dolat-Abad. The city enjoys the peaceful coexistence of three religions: Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Yazd Jameh Mosque, Dowlatabad Garden, the Yazd Atash Behram, also known as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers of Silence, and adjacent desert landscape are among its tourist sites.

Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 Regional News