Iran opening up to Russian tourists

A joint action program for 2016-2018 to implement the agreement between the governments of Russia and Iran on cooperation in tourism will be signed during the visit of the Russian delegation to Tehran, led by the head of the Federal Tourism Agency, Oleg Safonov, the press secretary of the Federal Tourism Agency Svetlana Sergeyeva said, noting that 2015 was marked by a significant increase in tourist flow from Iran to Russia.

"The number of Iranian tourists visiting Russia increased by 111% in just the first nine months of 2015 in comparison with the same period of 2014 and amounted 33.64 thousand people," RIA Novosti cited her as saying.

Sergeyeva noted that the intensification of Russian-Iranian relations in the tourism sector has been repeatedly welcomed at the negotiations with Iran and reminded that Safonov met with the deputy head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Morteza Rahmani, on January 14, 2016.

"The Federal Tourism Agency plans to intensify work in Iran. The issue of opening a Visit Russia office in Tehran is being discussed to promote Russia's national tourism products on the Iranian market," the expert said.

"A joint action program for 2016-2018 to implement the agreement between the Russian government and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation in tourism will be signed. Currently, the document is being approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia," Sergeyeva said.

The executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, Maya Lomidze, said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza that the Iranian direction is very interesting and there is potential, but there are also a few things that hinder adequate demand.

"Firstly, there's a complete lack of promotion. Most people do not really understand why they should visit Iran. Secondly, there's the visa issue. The Iranian side started to do something about the issue – visa liberalization for journalists, cultural figures and scientists starting from the end of January. And, of course, we need some work on people's stay in the country, because even seaside resorts lay certain restrictions on travellers. They have separate male and female beaches and requirements for clothing, the expert noted.

Speaking about the most attractive places to visit in Iran, the executive director of ATOR noted that the excursions in the country are mostly connected with Persia. "Isfahan, Tehran, Shiraz..there are many cities with a very special atmosphere, but no one knows about them," Maya Lomidze complained, noting that ATOR is ready to help promote this trend if Iran's Ministry of Tourism will make an appropriate decision.

Professor of the Department of Business Process Management in Production and Service of RANEPA, Galina Dekhtyar, said that the establishment of relations enables the development of tourism, because in 2015 Russia was visited by about 10 thousand Iranians.

"Today, there is a Halal-friendly program, which makes it possible for hotels to welcome Muslims, because it is necessary to consider national characteristics. We have a similar program in our country. We can say that this is just beginning to work. There are already several hotels working on this program," the expert noted.

"The main element of the reception of foreign tourists is the understanding that they would come and live the way they are accustomed, according to their religious customs. Our main facilities are ready, it's Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Golden Ring programs," the Professor of the Department of Business Process Management in Production and Service of RANEPA said.

Answering the question about the most attractive places for Russians in Iran, the expert noted that for many Russians this area is located near the site of military action.

"This is the territory of ​​a very serious Muslim state. Therefore, it would be hard for Russian tourists to understand  these aspects, ranging from separate beaches and a certain type of clothing. So these places won't be visited by the mass tourist. It wouldn't be cheap either, because there are no charter programs. Currently there is talk about the fact that our security services will monitor the territory of the airports in the Egyptian resort towns. It is a proven route, and tourists will rather return there," Galina Dekhtyar concluded.