Up by 20%
Seventy four million person-night stays were recorded in nationwide accommodation centers during Norouz holidays (May 21-April 2), indicating a 20 percent increase compared to the figure for the corresponding period of the year before, said the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO).
Ali Asghar Monesan added that people made 132 million visits to the country’s historical and cultural sites and museums during the period which shows tourism has seriously attracted the attention of Iranian families.
The official said northern province of Mazandaran drew the largest number of travelers during the holidays, followed by Gilan and Bushehr provinces.
“The number of tourists visited Chaharmahal-bakhtiari, Hamedan and Kerman provinces during the period increased by 206, 128 and 90 percent respectively” he said.
Monesan believes it will encourage officials to help promote tourism in less popular provinces of the country.
The official noted that 716 Norouzgah rituals were held across the country to bring joy to Norouz travelers.
ICHHTO chief said the visitors purchased Iranian handicrafts from 624 handicraft markets during the period.
Monesan said that the number of land and air trips made during Norouz holidays grew by 27.5 percent and 7.2 percent respectively.
In order to support Iranian manufacturers, a number of travel packages have been prepared to be gifted to those purchasing domestic products.