Recent data from Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization indicating a hike in the number of tourists to Iran in the current Iranian year (began March 21) has raised eyebrows given last year's downturn, but officials assure that the figures are reliable.
The statistics illustrated that 1.44 million foreign tourists traveled to Iran during spring (March 21-June 21) marking a 30% rise from last year's figures for the same period.
This is while during the whole last year, the number of inbound travelers grew by a meager 4%, and the year before had seen a negative growth rate.
The relatively large increase within a short time span seems surprising and has cast doubts on the integrity of ICHHTO's reports.
However, Mohammad Moheb-Khodaei, tourism deputy at ICHHTO, told ISNA that the rate of growth is nothing too weird and unexpected.
"We obtain the statistics about foreign arrivals from the Immigration and Aliens Police; we are not the provider of the data to be able to release falsified figures," he said.
Forex Factor
He tried to exculpate his organization but did not provide details as to the underlying reasons behind the growth. Experts, however, attribute the uptick to the forex rates and the steep devaluation of the rial which has naturally increased tourists' purchasing power.
The favorable condition seems to have appealed chiefly to the citizens of the neighboring country Iraq, whose outbound tourists to Iran rose by 75%, according to Moheb-Khodaei.
"This is followed by Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Turkey which sent 30%, 28% and 24% more travelers to Iran respectively during the past spring compared to a year earlier," he said.
Europeans, on the other hand, cut down on their trips to Iran and their numbers saw a 24% decline from last year's spring.
"There are issues regarding the insurance of these tourists due to sanctions for which we are trying to find a solution," he said. Medical treatment and business matters are still the key attractions of Iran for foreigners, he added.
"Out of around 5.1 million inbound tourists last year, 1.1 million made a trip to Iran on business," he said.
Visa-free travel to Arvand Free Trade Zone for Iraqis that has enabled them to make half-a-day journeys to Iran is thought to have also contributed to the significant growth.
Asked whether these groups have been counted in the statistics, Moheb-Khodaei said travelers that fit the World Tourism Organization's definition of tourist are included in the data.
"Iraqis who travel to the FTZ for shopping have a business purpose after all and inject money into the country's economy, so they can be considered tourists," he said.
