ALWAGHT- Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism, announced that the number of foreign visitors to Iran is on the rise.
Speaking on the sidelines of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Reza Salehi Amiri said Iran aims to attract 15 million foreign tourists by the end of the 7th Development Plan. He noted that a 25 percent annual growth in tourist arrivals had been projected, a target that was successfully met by the end of the Iranian year 1403 (March 20).
For the Persian year 1404, the projected growth was achieved during Farvardin and Ordibehesht (March–May), but arrivals slowed from Khordad to Mordad (June–August) due to the outbreak of war. However, September has shown a renewed positive trend in tourist numbers, he added.
Salehi Amiri highlighted that Iran is actively negotiating with various countries, prioritizing neighboring nations, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. In the next phase, talks will focus on major Islamic countries such as Egypt and Indonesia, with future outreach planned to China, India, and Russia to help meet this year’s targets for foreign tourist arrivals.
