Governments of Western countries, once a popular source of tourists for Iran, are now advising their citizens to avoid traveling to the Islamic republic. This has left Iran’s struggling tourism industry seeking new avenues to attract visitors.
Tourism professionals are now focusing on countries like China and Russia, which maintain amicable relations with Iran, as they hope for better days. For many years, Westerners have been drawn to Iran’s picturesque mountain ranges, historic Islamic sites, and its ancient culture spanning thousands of years.
The return of European visitors in 2015, after Iran emerged from decades of isolation by signing a nuclear deal with major powers led by the United States, was a sign of hope for the tourism industry.
In 2019, the number of tourists arriving in Iran skyrocketed to eight million, with travelers flocking to popular destinations such as Isfahan, Persepolis, and Shiraz, the jewels of ancient Persia.
The rapid growth of the industry had led many to believe that Iran would be welcoming up to 20 million tourists annually by 2025, but these hopes were shattered by a series of setbacks.
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