Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said that Iran has experienced a significant growth in the number of tourists visiting the country in the six months to late September mainly due to a regime of visa waiver agreed with Iraq, adding that Iraq has been responsible for the largest number of tourists visiting Iran over the period.
Shalbafian said that the growing number of tourists visiting Iran had come despite political and military developments in Azerbaijan and Afghanistan.
He said Iran is seeking to hit a target 15 million arrivals of foreign tourists per year, adding that the country is trying to expand its aviation fleet and has plans to ease visa rules to reach that target.
The official said more than 130 tourism programs will be held in more than 60 cities across Iran in the calendar year to late March.
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