In Iran, the tourism minister has caused outrage with statements about mandatory headscarves. When asked about videos of women without headscarves being attacked, arch-conservative minister Esatollah Sarghami did not see them as a deterrent to potential tourists: “For foreign travellers, anything can be a tourist attraction”.
“Who would like it?” asked many users on Twitter. “Do tourists now vote for our country, or rather the majority of people who want civil rights, such as freedom to choose their clothes?” one user replied to a newspaper article.
Ongoing protests rocked the tourism industry
Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, tourism in Iran has plummeted. As a result, European tour operators have also withdrawn from the country. The drop in women-led protests in 2022 and the violent crackdown by the security apparatus have further shocked the industry.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel warning and asked the Germans to leave the country. The uprisings were provoked by the death of Iranian Kurd Jina Mahsa Amini. She died in police custody in mid-September after being arrested by the moral police for allegedly violating the mandatory headscarf.
Great tourist potential, but few visitors
Meanwhile, political crises had also driven tourists away. The country with its 26 cultural World Heritage Sites such as the ruins of Persepolis or the Persian Gardens has great tourism potential. Leaders in Tehran had set a goal of welcoming 20 million guests to the country every year by 2025.
In 2018, more than seven million foreign visitors traveled to Iran. Authorities spoke of about three million tourist visitors during the past nine months of the Persian calendar year (until the end of March).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
