Tourism in Iran

Tourism in Iran declined dramatically during the war with Iraq in the 1980s but has subsequently revived. About 1,659,000 foreign tourists visited Iran in 2004; most came from Asian countries, including the republics of Central Asia, while a small share came from the countries of the European Union and North America. The most popular tourist destinations are Esfahan, Mashhad, and Shiraz. In the early 2000s the industry still faced serious limitations in infrastructure, communications, regulatory norms, and personnel training. [ [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Iran.pdf COUNTRY PROFILE: IRAN] Retrieved 12 February 2008] The majority of the 300,000 tourist visas granted in 2003 were obtained by Asian Muslims, who presumably intended to visit important pilgrimage sites in Mashhad and Qom. Several organized tours from Germany, France, and other European countries come to Iran annually to visit archaeological sites and monuments. Iran currently ranks 68th in tourism revenues worldwide. Iran with attractive natural and historical sites is rated among the 10 most touristic countries in the world. Close to 1.8% of national employment is generated in the tourism sector which is slated to increase to 10% in the next five years. [ [http://www.farsinet.com/travel2iran/ Travel To Iran - Tourism in Iran] Retrieved 23 January 2008] Weak advertising, unstable regional conditions, a poor public image in some parts of the world, and absence of efficient planning schemes in the tourism sector have all hindered the growth of tourism.

From 2004, the country experienced a 100-percent growth in foreign tourist arrivals until 2007. Iran's '20-Year Vision' document projects investment of over $32 billion in the country's tourism sector. The document also predicts that Iran will account for two percent of international tourists by 2025 [http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=70768&sectionid=351020108]

References

ee also

*Culture of Iran
*Kish Island
*Iran Air (national airline)

External Links

*wikitravel|Iran (for business or tourism)
* [http://www.irpedia.com/ Irpedia] -Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization
* [http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Middle_East/Iran/ Open Directory - Iran]