Iran expects more tourists from Azerbaijan this year
By Sara Rajabova
Around one million tourists from Azerbaijan will visit neighboring Iran by the end of 2013, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayin has said.
"Relations are developing between Iran and Azerbaijan in the field of tourism, mainly in the area of medical tourism," Pak Ayin said.
The ambassador said the opening hours of the border checkpoints have been increased to 12 to simplify border crossing between Azerbaijan and Iran.
Iran unilaterally abolished the visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens from February 1, 2010. The decision simplified the conditions for the Azerbaijani people, mainly for the residents of the borderline regions who visit Iran for various purposes, especially for medical treatment, pilgrimage to the Mashad city and trade.
According to the official statistics of Iran, last year 700,000 Azerbaijanis visited Iran and about 350,000 Iranians came to Azerbaijan. The number of Iranians visiting Azerbaijan particularly rises during holiday vacations.
The number of Azerbaijanis visiting Iran for medical treatment is rising day by day, after the simplification of the visa regulations. The number of people visiting Tabriz for treatment make up the majority.
Recently, a special taxi service was launched near the Bilasuvar border checkpoint in order to provide convenience to the people visiting Iran for treatment, pilgrimage and travel.
According to the head of Hadi Seyr passenger transportation company in Iran's Bilah Suvar town, Akbar Naseri, the company serves for the comfortable transfer of visitors to all cities and regions of Iran.
He also said that in the near future, the company will provide medical services at the border. The doctors working there will diagnose diseases of the applying people and give them recommendations. This will prevent the loss of time and money for the people applying for medical treatment.
Azerbaijan and Iran are seeking to expand their trade and economic relations. According to Iranian figures, Azerbaijan is currently among the top ten trading partners of the country.
Earlier, Ambassador Pak Ayin said that trade turnover between the two countries is $500 million. The two countries are looking to bring the figure to $1 billion.