Iran is the jewel in Islam's crown, combining glorious architecture with a warm-hearted welcome. Masjed-e Shah Esfahan Mosque.

Some 875 restaurants and hotels were publicly managed by cooperatives and government organizations.

As an MA graduate in English and official guide licensed by the Iran National Tourism Organization, I can offer you a front row seat and exciting insight into the rich history, diverse culture and impressive architecture of Iran.

[29] In 2012, Iranians spent $18.5 billion on outward tourism. [4], In 2013, the number of foreign tourists in Iran reached 4.76 million, contributing more than US$2 billion to the national economy.

There is undoubtedly great scope for increased visitors from the Islamic world, and possibly also from non-Muslim countries with which Iran is developing business and political links, such as China and India. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Some 66 percent of these projects are underway in the provinces of Tehran, Gilan, Mazandaran, Razavi Khorasan and Isfahan. Tourism in Iran is diverse, providing a range of activities from hiking and skiing in the Alborz and Zagros mountains, to beach holidays by the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. [17], In recent years, 235 hotels, hotel apartments, motels and guesthouses have become operational nationwide.

Evan Lake, in Qazvin, is a small alpine lake and a source of tranquility in the height of mountains. The Iranian government has made concerted efforts to attract tourists to the various destinations in the country and arrivals have increased in recent years. Rail lines from Turkey and Turkmenistan can also be used to enter Iran. Tourism declined dramatically during the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s. Another key segment of international arrival traffic are pilgrims come to pay a visit to one of the many holy sites scattered throughout the country.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. [11], The World Travel and Tourism Council claims that business and personal tourism rose by 11.3% and 4.6%, respectively, in real terms in 2007, with the growth in personal tourism only modestly below that of the preceding year.

[21], Officials state that Iran has in recent years earned about US$1bn a year from tourism. Iran is the heart of history & civilization in Middle East.

About 70% of visitors arrived by land in 2002, about 29% by air and less than 1% by sea. [1] Up until early 2012, because the Iranian rial was overvalued, the Iranian government was subsidizing its travelers abroad (2010). Chanteh or “Ayinehdan” is one of the handwoven products of nomad people of Fars province. [4][18] 30,000 people come to Iran each year to receive medical treatment (2012).

According to the ancient Iran calendar, the sixteenth day of each month is called Mehr. As at 2010, 400 hotels and 200 hotel apartments are under construction nationwide.

[3][5] The strong devaluation of the Iranian Rial since early 2012 has been a positive element for tourism in Iran. Select points of interest to plot on map by type. For me, guiding is more than a job, which is why many of my clients become my friends long before the journey ends.

Around three-quarters of those entering Iran in 1999 came from Europe. [6], Iran has tried to improve its complex and time-consuming visa application process and started to issue week-long visas for the nationals of 68 countries at airports. This was expected to rise by 4.4% in 2015 and rise by 4.3% pa to 656,000 jobs (2.2% of total employment) by 2025. [1], In 2011, most of Iran's international visitors arrived in Iran solely for the purpose of leisure travel. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage In Iran, Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Iranian Consular services in Washington D.C.

Tourism in Iran is diverse, providing a range of activities from hiking and skiing in the Alborz and Zagros mountains, to beach holidays by the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. Iran owns an enormous wealth of traditional masterpieces remained from old, middle, and modern arenas. [1], From 2004, the country experienced a 100 percent growth in foreign tourist arrivals until mid-2008, when the number of foreign arrivals surged up to 2.5 million.