Azernews.Az

For the first time in 35 years, the number of tourists who traveled to Iran is more than the number of Iranian tourists visiting other countries.

Official data shows that a total number of 1.474 million tourists traveled to Iran in summer, Iran’s Donya-e-Eqtesad News reported on Nov. 11.

It is while some 1.417 Iranians travel to foreign countries in the mentioned period.

According to Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) reports, the number of European tourists who travel to Iran in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 – September 22) has been increase by 200 percent compared to same period previous year.

ICHHTO Director Masoud Soltanifar said earlier that Iran’s share out of the world’s total $1.25 trillion tourism industry is only 0.5 percent.

“It is while Iran is among world’s top countries in terms of tourist attractions,” he said. “Iran’s share should at least be 3 percent. Iran’s tourism industry earned only $6 billion in the previous calendar year (which ended on March 20),” he explained.

According to the official, Iran is the cheapest country for tourists in the Middle East region.

“Iran needs to improve its infrastructure and transportation system to absorb more tourists,” he added.

The country currently attracts predominantly medical and religious tourists, although this is all expected to change as Iran develops new relationships with foreign nations.