Tourexpi
Starting
from Monday, tourists from 28 countries will be able to visit Iran without
needing to obtain a visa as the Persian Gulf country looks to revive its
tourism industry.
The
countries whose citizens are exempted from visas for traveling to Iran include
Japan, Brazil, India, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, Singapore, Cuba, Tunisia and
Tanzania.
In
line with the Ebrahim Raisi government's "neighborhood-friendly"
policy, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and some Central Asian
countries are also included in the list announced by the Iranian Foreign
Ministry.
Last
year, Iran restored its diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia after seven years
following marathon negotiations between the arch-foes mediated by Iraq, Oman
and China.
Tehran
has also buried the hatchet with the UAE and Kuwait and has been engaged in
hectic diplomacy to revive ties with Bahrain.
The
list also indicates Iran's inclination to strengthen both diplomatic and
cultural ties with countries in Latin America, South Asia and Central Asia, say
experts.
Earlier
this week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Ali-Reza
Bigdeli confirmed that nationals from 28 countries will be granted visa-free
entry into Iran.
The
visa waiver applies to tourists traveling to Iran by air, not through land
border crossings, the official announced.
Bigdeli
said in statements cited by the state-run news agency IRNA that the ministry
has notified all relevant bodies of the Cabinet order regarding this unilateral
decision.
Indian
nationals can travel to Iran without obtaining a visa provided they come by
air, but they would need a visa if they travel by road, he added.
Last
month, Tourism Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami said the decision to grant visa
waivers aimed at reviving the country's tourism sector.
It
comes as Iran has already given visa-free entry to nationals from Türkiye,
Oman, Azerbaijan, Armenia, China, Lebanon and Syria.
After
the outbreak of coronavirus in early 2020, Iran's sanctions-battered tourism
industry was hit hard, as tourist footfall plunged dramatically.
However,
since mid-2023, the industry has seen signs of recovery, according to official
statistics, but officials are looking at other incentives, including visa
waivers, to attract foreign tourists.
Image
Credit: © AA
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