Iran to overtake Europe as top destination for Russian tourists
Iran has become a preferred destination for Russian tourists, surpassing some European countries, thanks to an increase in demand for tours during the peak autumn season. The introduction of visa-free group travel has further attracted more Russians to explore the country.
Dmitry Arutyunov, the General Manager of Art Tour Company, highlighted that Iran is now seen as an alternative to countries with visa requirements, particularly European countries.
Russian media outlets, as reported by IRNA, cited several reasons for the rising interest in Iran, including its rich historical and cultural heritage, affordable hotel prices, and flight tickets. The recent visa-free group travel announcement by the Ministry of Economic Development, scheduled to begin on August 1, has played a significant role in drawing more tourists than ever.
Intourist, a Russian tour operator, revealed that tour sales to Iran have surged by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year, with bookings extending well into October. The demand for tours to Iran usually peaks during spring and autumn, with both individuals and organized groups of 30 to 40 people heading to the country.
Despite the increasing interest, experts point out the lack of an active advertising campaign in Russia to promote Iran as a tourist destination.
Arutyunov emphasized that many Russian tourists are unfamiliar with Iran’s potential as a fascinating spot for spring and autumn trips. Notably, Iran’s excellent skiing facilities have also garnered interest from winter travelers seeking an alternative to the Alps as a ski resort.
Maria Novoikova, a manager at Star Tour Company, agrees with Arutyunov’s assessment, stating that Iran has emerged as a replacement for European countries, offering lower travel prices.
In recent developments, Russian Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, announced plans for the first visa-free trips to Iran and China starting August 1. Under this arrangement, tourists from both countries can travel without visas in organized groups of five to 50 people for a duration of two weeks.
Additionally, Iran and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding in May, aiming to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. The objectives of the memorandum include promoting tourism as a crucial area of collaboration, increasing the number of tourists in both countries, and developing human resources in the travel and tourism industry. The two nations also highlighted their focus on exchanging experts in the tourism sector, sharing experiences related to various types of tourism, and developing new maritime tourism routes.
Moreover, the memorandum encourages the participation of tourism sector representatives in international tourism events, fosters private sector cooperation in investment and tourism-related trade, and supports organizing familiarization tours for tour operators, travel agencies, journalists, and government officials from both countries to introduce tourism attractions and capacities.