Nowruz tourism booms in Iran
Over 35m hit roads, 4.8m visit historical sites
Iran’s Nowruz holidays have once again proven to be a magnet for domestic and international travelers, with millions flocking to the country’s historical and cultural sites.
During the two-week holiday, spanning March 19 to April 3, over 4.8 million visits were made to cultural and historical attractions managed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, IRNA reported.
Iconic destinations such as Persepolis, Hafezieh, and Saadieh topped the charts, drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors. “Persepolis alone pulled in nearly half a million visitors,” officials noted, adding that the site hosted 18,257 tourists on April 3 alone.
The surge in tourism was not limited to Shiraz’s landmarks. Other popular sites like Pasargadae, Arg-e Karim Khan, and Fin Garden also saw substantial foot traffic. “This year’s turnout has really hit it out of the park,” a ministry spokesperson said, emphasizing the growing appeal of Iran’s historical treasures.
Beyond cultural sites, the Nowruz season witnessed a broader travel boom across the country. Minister of Cultural Heritage Reza Salehi Amiri highlighted that approximately 40% of Iran’s population embarked on trips during this period. “Over 35 million people hit the road,” he stated in a televised interview, pointing to a 2.2% increase compared to last year.
Salehi-Amiri attributed this uptick to improved infrastructure and coordinated efforts by government agencies. “We pulled out all the stops this year,” he said, praising the contributions of 28 organizations involved in travel services.
The minister also underscored the role of tourism in countering negative perceptions about Iran abroad: “We’re turning the tide on Iranophobia through cultural diplomacy.”
Despite the celebratory mood, Salehi-Amiri acknowledged that there is still room for improvement. “We’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to bureaucratic hurdles,” he said, calling for streamlined processes to attract foreign investment in tourism.
He also stressed the importance of enhancing infrastructure to ensure a seamless travel experience for both domestic and international tourists.
The minister further revealed that over seven million foreign tourists visited Iran last year—a figure he hopes will climb higher with ongoing efforts to bolster safety and accessibility. “It’s not just about rolling out the red carpet; we need to address every bottleneck,” he said.
In Ilam Province, tourism also flourished during Nowruz holidays with remarkable growth. The Director-General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts in Ilam announced a 27.8% increase in visitor arrivals during this period and added that Ilam ranked as the top province in terms of tourism growth nationwide.
Farzad Sharifi said that from March 13 to April 3, over 265,000 people stayed in official accommodations such as guesthouses, eco-lodges, and hotels across Ilam Province.
Additionally, from March 15 until the end of Nowruz holidays, 640 tourism tours from various parts of Iran visited Ilam and explored its attractions.
Sharifi said that over 12,000 visits were recorded at historical, natural, religious sites, museums, and Nowruz celebrations in Ilam during this time frame.