The visa waiver program for group travelers from Kazakhstan and Russia is slated to be implemented by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20), according to Iran's top tourism office.
Zahra Ahmadipour, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, made the statement earlier this week in a meeting with Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UN World Tourism Organization, Tasnim News Agency reported. Tehran and Moscow agreed in October to waive visa requirements for tours organized by travel agencies, while the same agreement was reached between Iranian and Kazakh officials last week.
The visa waiver scheme is only valid for groups of five to 50 tourists. "Airport visas (valid for up to 90 days) are currently issued for nationals of 190 countries and the electronic visa scheme will also be made available by the yearend," she said.
The official also expressed readiness to help make plans for the development of tourism in the region and define new travel routes along the ancient Silk Road.
"UNWTO's expertise can be of great assistance to Iran along the way," she said.
Ahmadipour noted that Iran will be able to attract more foreign travelers by boosting its image globally.
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