In a bid to boost tourism and travel sector of Iran, Iranian government has cancelled visa requirements for visitors from 33 nations, including India. Iranian minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami told state-run news agency IRNA on Friday that the move has been taken to attract more visitors from countries around the world and boost number of tourists travelling to Iran.
“The Islamic Republic has shown its readiness to open doors to people worldwide and provide more facilities for them so that they can easily visit our country and benefit from its advantages,” Zarghami said.
Earlier this year, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, nations that are seeking to boost tourism and trade, placed India on similar visa-exemption lists of countries.
With 32 nations added to the list of countries whose citizens won’t require a visa, Iran’s list of visa-exempt nations has reached 45. “(We) believe that an open-door policy will showcase Iran’s determination to engage with different countries of the world. The government intends to open the country’s doors to the world,” Iran’s tourism ministry said.
Visa restrictions have also been eased for tourists coming from Saudi Arabia as well, in a signal that both nations are ready to draw closer after the restoration of diplomatic ties.
Iran has also ended visa requirements for Bahrain, with whom it has not re-established full ties yet. The only European country in the list in Croatia. Tunisia, Lebanon and the UAE have also been added to the list. Qatar and several Central Asian, African and “Muslim” nations were also added to the list.
Iran already had visa-exemption agreements with Türkiye, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon and Syria.
Iran’s move to open its door to foreigners comes as it poised to join BRICS. “Russians will only profit from this visa exemption if they are visiting the country in groups,” the Iranian state-run news agency said.
