Iran's borders to stay closed to international travelers; official
Iran's Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts told that Iran's borders are closed to international travelers.
In an exclusive interview with ILNA news agency on Thursday, Vali Teymouri said “Coronavirus is continuing to spread globally and requires the health protocols that are constantly emphasized.”
“We are reviewing the health protocols for the entry of foreign tourists,” he added.
The Iranian official said that testing (PCR test) at the airport, metering, receiving a health certificate, indicating places for quarantine, and supporting the tourists who will be affected Covid-19 disease during their trip in Iran, are the measures we are considering.
The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has plunged the travel and tourism industry and economy in the global scene over that past couple of months as passenger traffic on airlines and hotel occupancy rates have fallen off a cliff compared to the same periods previous years.
The deputy tourism minister also underlined “In response to the pandemic, the tourism ministry in close collaboration with the health ministry has developed protocols comprising practical guidelines and instructions to improve health standards in hotels, guest houses, eco-lodge units, tourist destinations, transport facilities, recreational centers, and restaurants.”
“After this pandemic, we are witnessing several changes in traveling, and it will definitely change in the tourism market of Iran,” Teymouri added.
“I believe that tourism industry of the country will get back on the right track far sooner than generally expected thanks to the measures taken to deal with the spread of coronavirus in tourist destinations, hotels, stopovers, and all the centers which are affiliated with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts,” Teymouri said in another interview.
Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.
Some experts expect Iran to achieve a tourism boom after coronavirus contained, believing its impact would be temporary and short-lived for a country that ranked the third fastest-growing tourism destination in 2019.
The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, it aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.
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