Inbound Tourism Took a Hit in 2017

Iran's tourism industry recorded a negative growth rate in 2017 according to the latest report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Based on the organization's tourism highlights published in August, Iran had been host to a total of 4.86 million tourists in 2017, recording a 1.5% fall in comparison to the record of the previous year. In 2016, the country had been chosen as a travel destination by over 4.9 million people. In addition, UNWTO reported that the figure in 2010 was equal to 2.9 million people which allows a broader comparison, ISNA reported. 
On tourism revenues in Iran, the UNWTO reported the country had earned $2.43 billion in 2010 and $3.71 billion in 2016, but the earnings in 2017 was not provided. 
However, tourism officials in Iran have estimated that the revenue had been around $6 billion. The 2016 figures are inconsistent with the stats provided by the Iranian tourism authorities who had reported that tourism had earned the country over $8 billion in 2016, indicating a 46% difference with UNWTO's data.