Azerbaijan, Baku, Mar.25/ Trend F.Milad
Over 3,729,000 foreign tourists visited Iran in the past Iranian calendar year which ended March 20.The number shows a 32 per cent increase compared to the preceding year.
The foreign tourists were mainly from India, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Although Iran's travel industry has still not reached what many think could be its true potential, the trend in recent years has been one of growth exceeding global averages.
From 2004 to 2010, the annual increase in tourists visiting foreign countries was 3.2 per cent worldwide, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organisation. Iran's figures over the same period showed tourism grew at a much faster rate of 12.7 per cent, the Washington Post reported.
Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organisation is responsible for the establishment, development and operation of tourism facilities in Iran. It plans for the repair or extension of tourism facilities through direct investment or providing loans or entering partnership with the private sector, issuing licenses and supervising the establishment and administration of hotels, restaurants and travel agencies and qualification and rating of these units.
The landscape of Iran is diverse providing a range of activities from hiking and skiing in the Alborz mountains, to beach holidays by the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.