WTTC report predict significant rise in Iran's tourism

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

The World Travel and Tourism Council has forecasted an increase of 6.6 percent in Iran’s tourism industry in 2015.

The WTTC in its recent report titled “Travel & Tourism: ECONOMIC IMPACT 2015 IRAN” assessed the value of Iran’s tourism industry for 2014 at about $7.8 billion, Press TV reported.

The report further said in 2014, travel and tourism in Iran directly supported 413,000 jobs, which is equal to 1.8 percent of the country’s overall employment.

This is expected to rise by 4.4 percent in 2015 and by 4.3 percent to 656,000 jobs (2.2 percent of total employment) in 2025, according to the report.

It also put the value of Iran’s investments in its tourism industry in 2014 at $2.8 billion, equal to around three percent of the total investment made in the country throughout the year. The figure, it said, will see an increase of 4.3 percent in 2015 and will reach $2.9 billion in 2015.

Some 3.8 million foreign tourists visited Iran in 2012, bringing $1.11 billion worth of income to the country. The figure stood at 4.77 million in 2013, constituting a 24.4 percent jump in revenue.

Earlier, Iranian officials said the country plans to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2025, which could generate $30 billion in revenues.

The WTTC report further put the world ranking of Iran’s tourism industry (out of 184 countries) at the 41st place in terms of size and at the 137th place in terms of contribution to GDP in 2014. It also said Iran could stand in 21st place in the global ranking of tourism for 2015.

Iranian media earlier reported that Iran is among the world’s top 10 countries for archeological and cultural sites, but it ranks 132nd and 160th out of 180 world countries in terms of its tourism industry and tourism revenues.

A report by the World Economic Forum in May said Iran is the best destination for foreign tourists in terms of low costs and proper tourism services.

Furthermore, after the removal of international sanctions on the country, the Islamic Republic is expected to witness a boom in the tourism sector.

Iran is seen as one of the world’s top potential tourist destinations, as it contains a countless number of ancient sites. The country ranks fourth in Asia and first in the Middle East in terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with an impressive 17 historic sites that have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Iran's tourism industry is booming, with more foreign travelers visiting the country than ever before. The Iranian government has recently focused on the development of the tourism sector. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is hoping to attract 10 million international tourists each year.

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