Iran, a unique destination
Iran is a country in West Asia, bordered on the north and centre by the Caspian Sea and the south by the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. With a total area of about 1,648,195 square kilometres, the nation is ranked seventeenth in the world. More than 81 million people currently live there, and the GDP per person is $5,400 USD. Iran has substantial oil and gas reserves. It is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and its oil exports rank second and fourth in the world, respectively. Along with electronics, nuclear, and computer software and hardware industries, Iran also has a thriving petrochemical, steel, and automobile manufacturing sector. Iran has one of the strongest economies in Asia, ranking seventh in terms of economic power (after China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia). The real GDP at comparable base prices in AH 1376 was IRR 539,219 million, an increase of 5.8% year-on-year; Iran’s nominal GDP at basic prices in that year was IRR 430,426.4 million, an increase of 20.8% year-on-year; and the GDP deflator was 798.24, an increase of 14.3% year-on-year. These figures come from preliminary data provided by the Bureau of Economic Accounts of the Bank of Iran City for the year 13 According to the data, Iran’s nominal GDP in 2011 was equal to US$416.313 billion in nominal basic prices, US$419.101 billion in nominal market prices, and US$561.0 in nominal market prices per person. Oil extraction dominates the economy, and while the petrochemical, steel, and automobile manufacturing sectors are relatively well developed, Iran’s electronics, nuclear, and computer hardware and software industries are growing quickly. Iran’s machinery manufacturing sector has advanced significantly, and Khuzestan serves as both a major seaport and the entrance to the oil industrial zone.
Iran has abundant coal, gas, and oil reserves. By the end of 2011, the world’s proven oil reserves stood at 154.58 billion barrels, representing 11% of all reserves and ranking third in the world; the same year, the world’s proven natural gas reserves stood at 33.69 trillion cubic metres, representing 17% of all reserves and coming in second. With a daily production capacity of 3.5 million barrels of crude oil and 500 million cubic metres of natural gas, oil and natural gas production rank fourth and fourth, respectively, in the world. The lifeblood of the Iraqi economy and one of the primary sources of foreign exchange earnings, oil accounts for more than half of all foreign exchange earnings. The Iranian economy has continued to expand steadily, with a 2017 GDP of $427.7 billion and a per-capita GDP of $5250.
The Middle East’s most populous nation, Iran has a population of over 83 million people and a sizable market. Additionally, Iran’s demographics have become younger since the Iran-Iraq war. According to the World Population Assessment website, the median age of the Iranian population is 32.0 years, with 24.1% of people under the age of 15 and 70.9% of people between the ages of 15 and 64. Around 50.7% of people in the male gender are found in Iran, demonstrating the country’s abundance in labour resources.
The number of foreign visitors to Iran increased by about 50% over 2017 to 7.29 million, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 2.1% of all tourists worldwide visited Iran, making up a significant portion of the total. According to Vari Teymouri, deputy minister of cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism, 4.1 million foreign visitors came to Iran in the first five months of the current Iranian year (March 21 to August 22).
With 1,903,000 visitors, Europe had the highest share of inbound tourists among all regions in 2017, according to the 2019 edition of the UNWTO Compendium of Tourism Statistics, a reference work for measuring and analysing tourism. Since 2017, the majority of visitors to Iran have come from the Middle East, second only to Europe, followed by South Asia (1,117,000 visitors), East Asia and the Pacific (153,000 visitors), and the South.
While rising hostilities between Washington and Tehran are deterring travellers, especially those from Europe, the number of people travelling to Iran for religious and medical reasons is rising, making up for the decline.
According to data from 2013 to 2016, the total amount spent by visitors from abroad peaked in 2015 at $4,771 million, followed by $4,197 million in 2014, $3,914 million in 2016, and $3,306 million in 2013.
In fact, Iran came in first place globally in terms of price competitiveness in the 2019 World Economic Forum Tourism Competitiveness Report. According to a World Economic Forum report, Iran’s top ranking is due to its low airline taxes and airport fees (ranked seventh), affordable fuel prices (ranked fifth), and strong purchasing power (fifth).
Despite repeated travel advisories from the US State Department and tensions between the two nations, travel professionals continue to view Iran as a welcoming and safe destination for tourists (including Americans). According to a recent article by the New York-based media outlet Skift, travellers seeking novel cultural encounters should consider Iran. The US State Department warned against travelling to Iran, but travel agents who spoke with Skift vehemently disagreed, stating that it has proven to be a safe and very hospitable place for tourists, including Americans.
Iran is as safe for travel as most of Europe, according to the 2019 Travel Risk Map, which was created by global risk experts International SOS in collaboration with Control Risks. Iran, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan are also regarded as low risk countries, as are the majority of European nations (including the UK). Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA are also regarded as low risk destinations. The International SOS survey found that lower travel security risks translate into lower rates of violent crime and fewer instances of racial, religious, or political violence or civil unrest.
According to a recent report from Iran, the country’s tourism sector expanded by 1.9% in 2018, contributing 1,158 trillion rials (roughly $8.83 billion), or 6.5% of GDP, and creating 1.33 million jobs (5.4% of all employment. The impact of the sanctions has increased the importance of tourism to the Iranian economy. Starting in August 2019, Iran hopes to bring in up to one million Chinese tourists to help the country’s economy recover from the effects of sanctions.
According to Iran’s deputy director of tourism affairs, Vali Teymouri, the Iranian government has implemented a new visa waiver programme for Chinese visitors and expects the programme to “attract one million Chinese in the near future.” “We think that trade and cultural exchanges between the two nations go back a very long way. As a result, we should encourage and enhance mutual cooperation, particularly in the tourism industry.” He spoke.
By Irving
