TEHRAN – The number of Russian tourists visiting Iran is expected to exceed 50,000 in 2024, according to Iranian officials.
“Last year, around 50,000 Russian tourists visited Iran and this year the figure is expected to reach a record high,” said Moslem Shojaei, head of the Foreign Tourism Marketing Development Department at the Ministry of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
Shojaei made the remarks while speaking at an international tourism conference in Moscow, the Iranian news agency reported on Friday.
The official noted that more than 60,000 Iranian tourists visited Russia last year, suggesting that both countries have the potential to significantly increase that figure.
In addition, he highlighted the new visa exemption agreement for group travel between Iran and Russia, which allows groups of 5 to 50 nationals of the two countries to stay for up to 15 days without a visa.
“Both Russia and Iran have rich cultural, historical and natural attractions, creating excellent conditions for mutual tourism exchanges,” Shojaei said.
He stressed the importance of taking joint steps to share experiences between the two countries, which he said would lead to increased tourist flows.
In early May, Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, called on Russian companies to invest in Iran’s tourism infrastructure. Jalali highlighted tourism as a key area of cooperation and highlighted opportunities for Russian companies to invest in the development of Iran’s tourism infrastructure and the construction of hotels.
Last year, Tehran and Moscow introduced a visa-free exchange program, allowing tour groups to visit without the hassle of getting a visa. Available data suggests that initially, the visa simplification scheme generated significantly more interest among Iranian tourists than among Russian tourists.
The Islamic republic is hoping to make big bucks from its numerous tourist sites, including bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, baths, madrasahs, mausoleums, churches, towers and mansions, 27 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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