Slight Decline in Inbound Tourism

A total of 2.1 million tourists visited Iran in the first five months of the current Iranian year (started March 21) with a 1.1% decline compared with the same period of last year.

"However, the figure shows signs of recovery, as the decline stood at 5.1% during the first three months," Abdolreza Mohajerinejad, director of Tourism Development and Planning Office at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said.    

The descending trend of Iran's inbound tourism was triggered by political tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2015.

The recent tensions between Iran and the US concerning visa restrictions have also caused a fall in the number of American tourists to Iran.

Mohajerinejad said over the five-month period, about 700 Americans travelled to Iran while more than 2,300 visited Iran in the same period of last year.

Tourists from Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan have outnumbered other foreign tourists visiting Iran in the period.

In the last Iranian year, nearly five million foreigners visited Iran and the number of tourists from Europe saw a 50% increase.