Visitors to Iranian Museums Exceed 20 Million

The popularity of Iranian museums has increased among Iranians and tourists alike. Speaking to IRNA, Mohammad Reza Kargar, director for museum affairs at Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said over 20 million people, including two million foreigners, visited ICHHTO-run museums alone in the last Iranian year (ended March 2017).

According to Kargar, the number of visitors to museums has experienced a significant growth and the rate is expected to rise further until the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2018).

The official provided detailed information on achievements in the museum sector since the start of President Hassan Rouhani’s tenure in 2013.

“Since 2013, 83 museums have been inaugurated, including 22 museums under ICHHTO’s management,” he said.

The construction of Khorasan Grand Museum in Khorasan Razavi Province, inauguration of the second floor of the National Museum of Iran and reopening of Islamic Period section at NMI after 10 years are among major steps taken in recent years.

Kargar noted that the lifting of western-imposed sanctions following the implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal with major powers in January 2016 has helped move Iran under the international spotlight, gradually erasing the negative image presented by the vested media outlets.

“Besides, the rise in investment security after the nuclear deal led to the establishment of dozens of museums by the private sector,” he said. Given the current surge of tourists to museums, cultural heritage authorities are envisioning schemes such as issuing electronic tickets, barcoding the relics on display and training tour leaders to more efficiently serve the growing industry.