Tourism holds up despite crises, 1.2m foreign visitors in six months
About 1.2mn foreign tourists visited Iran in the first half of the Persian calendar year to September 22, the tourism deputy minister said on Wednesday, as the sector kept operating despite recent crises including the 39-day US-Israeli war that broke out in late February.
Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey said domestic and foreign tourism had not stopped, while accommodation occupancy rose to more than 75% to 80% from August, IRNA reported.
Mohseni-Bandpey credited the resilience of tourism businesses and support from the private sector and industry associations with keeping the sector running.
He said scenarios had been drawn up for different conditions, including war and peace, to help the industry withstand unexpected disruptions.
“Iran should focus on keeping foreign tourists in the country for longer to extract greater economic value from their visits,” Mohseni-Bandpey said.
“Health tourism and Iran’s cultural and spiritual attractions could prove more resilient during crises and help keep foreign tourism flowing,” he added.
More than 1,000 tourism events are being held across Iran during Tourism Week to boost domestic travel and drive demand.
“Isfahan has the potential to become an international health tourism destination,” Mohseni-Bandpey said at a Tourism Week event in the city.
He said the health capacity developed in Isfahan had helped prompt the relocation of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) tourism summit to the city following a proposal by the provincial governor.
According to the official, Isfahan’s tourism industry has also embraced digital technology and artificial intelligence to redesign tourism.
“AI can personalize travel and turn a tourist’s stay into a lasting experience,” Mohseni-Bandpey said, citing the historic Abbasi Hotel as an example of a shift from simply providing accommodation to creating experiences and lasting memories.
The government is backing tourism businesses and working to remove legal and administrative barriers. Mohseni-Bandpey said President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered a mechanism to examine demands over Article 83 and tax exemptions for tourism businesses.
He said tourism investment should be supported because it contributes to employment and promotes Iran’s cultural and historical attractions as well as generating profits.
Isfahan has 120 programs planned for Tourism Week, including the first ceremony honoring the province’s tourism figures. The event also recognized tourism industry workers and saw the launch of the “Isfahan Smart Journey” application.
World Tourism Day is held annually on Sept. 27, while Iran’s Tourism Week began on the same date this year.