Iran has made the decision to waive visa requirements for visitors from 33 countries, including Russia, with the goal of boosting tourism.
Ezzatollah Zarghami, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, announced on Wednesday that the cancellation of visa requirements was approved during a government meeting.
The countries benefiting from this decision include Russia, whose citizens have faced increased travel difficulties since the invasion of Ukraine last year.
According to Iranian news agencies, the countries affected by this measure include 17 Asian countries, 6 African countries, 5 European countries, and 5 Latin American states.
Asian countries on the list include India, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam. The European countries are Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Belarus. The Latin American countries are Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela.
The African countries included are Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
During the first six months of the current Iranian year, 3,354,185 individuals traveled to Iran, according to statistics from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Iran. This figure includes citizens from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, visiting for reasons other than tourism.
Iran has faced challenges in attracting foreign tourists in recent years, despite its rich cultural and historical heritage and captivating natural landscapes. Reports of the detention of foreigners and dual-nationals, as well as strict dress codes for women and limitations on alcohol and nightlife following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, have contributed to a decline in tourism interest.