Posted on 05/27/2014 5:25:56 AM PDT by rickmichaels
TEHRAN (FNA) - Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Massoud Soltanifar vowed to do his organization's best to pave the ground for attracting more tourists to the country's holy shrines.
Soltanifar said that Iran is to accelerate visa issuance for foreign tourists, especially for the religious ones, within the next two or three years.
He called for encouraging foreign tourists to visit religious cities, including Mashhad, Qom, Shiraz, Mashhad Ardehal and Shahr-e Rey.
He went on to say that nearly 2.1 million religious tourists visited Iran last year, 1.6 million of whom were from Iraq and 500,000 others came from the Persian Gulf countries.
“We are trying to increase this number to 5 million in the next few years,” the official added.
The official noted that religious tourism would lead to cultural exchanges, job creation and bringing in foreign exchange revenue.
Iran has taken part in several international tourism fairs such as the Caucasian international tourism fair in Georgia in 2011 and the 2012 Borsa International Tourism Exchange (BIT) in Italy to better introduce the country's tourist attractions.
No, they will behead you for NOT BEING A MUSLIM.....................
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Terrorists get the deluxe package; tourists - anything goes.
Think I'll stick with Daytona or something a little closer to home sweet home.
Tourist brochures could sing the praises of the screaming mobs, the hate-filled speeches by politicians, the public hangings of gays, the hostage taking, the financing of terrorism and all the other wonderful things inspired by the religion of peace.
Come to Iran where public hangings are great entertainment, dancing and drinking are banned and women must be covered head to foot. Gee, I bet there will be long lines for that tourist destination.
Need to add that one to my “Bucket List”.
1-Holy land tour.
2-Omaha for College World Series.
3-Army/Navy football game.
4-Vacation in Tehran.
Maybe Obama will renew his marriage vows in Iran once he leaves office. But it won’t be Michelle who leaves him hanging.
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