Azerbaijan’s border authorities have reported a 31.2% growth in the number of Azeri tourists to Iran during the first seven months of 2018.
According to IRNA, 603,500 Azerbaijani citizens visited Iran during the period, whereas the number of Iranian travelers to the neighboring country decreased by 21% to 165,530.
According to the report, Iran was the second top destination for Azeri outbound travelers. Georgia ranked first with a share of 33.4% from the total outbound trips by Azeri citizens. Russia with 22.9% and Turkey with 15.2% came third and fourth respectively.
Azerbaijan was the second top source of foreign tourists to Iran during the previous Iranian fiscal year ending in March, accounting for 21.12% of total foreign visitors. Data released by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization shows that 959,000 Azeri citizens visited Iran last year, even though the number was 2.2% lower than 981,000 registered in a year earlier.
Driving Force
Azeri visitors do not need a visa for traveling to Iran. This could be the main reason behind the growth in the number of trips to Iran. Azeri parliament, however, has canceled the visa-free regime for Iranian tourists.
Azeris have become a considerable source of income for providers of medical services in northeastern cities of Iran and religious cities such as Qom and Mashhad. This has persuaded Iranian lawmakers not to take reciprocal action on the visa arrangement.
The Azeri government offers airport visas to Iranians through its ASAN platform, in an attempt to facilitate trips to the country.
Iranian airlines, namely Iran Air, Mahan Air and ATA Airlines, operate several weekly direct flights between Baku and Iranian cities.
Iranian authorities have also shown interest in starting marine routes from Anzali Free Trade Zone ports in Northern Province of Gilan to Baku.
The two countries have enhanced mutual ties in various fields, including transportation, automotive industry and trade, since President Hassan Rouhani took the office in 2013. Azerbaijan has agreed to finance development of Rasht-Astara railroad, which forms part of International North-South Transport Corridor.
