Two thirds of tourists in Iran come from neighbouring countries, such as Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Afghanistan or Pakistan, predominantly religious pilgrims visiting the holy Shiite cities south of the capital Two thirds of tourists in Iran come from neighbouring countries, such as Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Afghanistan or Pakistan, predominantly religious pilgrims visiting the holy Shiite cities south of the capital

Iran's share in global tourism stands at 0.24%, Mahmoud Eslamian, CEO of Iran's Civil Pension Organisation told the International Travel and Hospitality Conference, held on Saturday in Iran.

Eslamian added that if the country's tourism industry improved, it could provide jobs for the seven million unemployed Iranians, reports Trend News Agency.

There are a reported 1,100 hotels in Iran at present and the country plans to triple this number by 2025, when it hopes to attract 20 million visitors, generating up to US$30 billion in revenue over that time frame, representing a fivefold increase in current revenues from foreign visitors.

Currently, two thirds of tourists in Iran come from neighbouring countries, such as Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Afghanistan or Pakistan, predominantly religious pilgrims visiting the holy sites in the south of the capital, Tehran.

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