Iran recently decided to implement a visa-free policy, removing the requirement for passport holders from 33 countries, including several Southeast Asian countries as well as Gulf states. This innovative move is expected to boost tourist arrivals to the country formerly known as Persia.
With this policy, Iran aims to attract more tourists from around the world. The number of countries or regions that can be visited without a visa now increases to 45, creating new opportunities for international travelers to explore the beauty and rich culture of Iran without administrative barriers. This decision creates valuable opportunities for the growth of the country's tourism sector.
According to the Tehran Times, Iran's Tourism Minister Zarghami said that the visa-free policy is expected to open a new chapter in the development of tourism in Iran, a new chapter of prosperity, and put an end to negative views and Iranophobia.
He emphasized that Iran is ready to open its doors to the world community and provide more facilities for tourists to visit the country.
The move is seen as an initiative to draw positive attention to Iran's tourism appeal and cultural richness and create opportunities for visitors to explore its charms.
Moreover, the move is also interpreted as an attempt to ease the strained relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, especially after several years of friction between the two oil-producing countries in the Gulf region. This decision creates an opportunity to build better relations between the two countries.
According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Tourism, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country reached 4.4 million in the first eight months of this year, registering an increase of 48.5 percent compared to the previous year.
Iran itself is one of the countries with the oldest traces of civilization in the world, with 27 sites recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites. There are so many places that tourists can visit in Iran, ranging from cultural tourism to nature tourism. One of the most famous is the city of Shiraz, one of the oldest capitals in Iran and home to Persepolis. Shiraz is also home to magnificent tourist attractions such as Pasargad and Eram Park, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Iranian Students' News Agency or ISNA has provided a comprehensive list of visa-free countries in Iran. Among them are:
Asia: India, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
Africa: Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Seychelles.
The Americas: Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.
Europe: Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Belarus.
