Some 85,670 medical tourists arrived in Iran during the first half of the current Iranian year (started March 20), showing an increase of 135 percent compared with the corresponding figure of last year.
Manouchehr Jahanian, the deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization for tourism, made the above statement in a press conference on the sidelines of the Third Medical Tourism Conference, IRNA reported.
Jahanian said the figure is expected to exceed 200,000 by the yearend, adding that the country earned $600 million in revenues through medical tourism during the period.
The official went on to say that a majority of medical tourists arrived in the country from Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
“Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Gilan, East Azarbaijan and Ardebil provinces hosted the largest number of medical tourists during the period,” he said.
Jahanian pointed out that 50,000 medical tourists arrived in Iran during last year, generating $150 million for the country.
Referring to the role played by tourism in establishing social and cultural relations with other countries, he said the tourism industry not only creates friendship between the people of different cultures and fosters peace and security, but also generates jobs and earns revenues.
More than 983 million people traveled to various parts of the world in 2011, generating a total of $1,030 billion for the countries involved.
Jahanian said the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that one billion tourists have travelled across the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism. The industry accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30 percent of the world’s services exports.
On the symbolic arrival of the one-billionth tourist on 13 December 2012, UNWTO revealed the steps tourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit.
Referring to the progress made by Iran in various fields, especially health and medical treatment, Jahanian said the Iranian achievements are due to the capabilities of its physicians, high level of medical knowledge, medical equipment and low cost of treatment.
Thanks to the efforts made by Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, ICHHTO and health and foreign ministries, a 50-percent discount is given to medical tourist visa issued by Iran.
The official said special privileges will be given to tour and travel agencies that attract medical tourists to the country.
The Third Medical Tourism Conference will be attended by the tourism ministers and ambassadors from Muslim countries, representative of UNWTO and tourism experts at Razavi Hospital of Mashhad from Dec. 18-19.
source: http://www.english.irib.ir / IRIB World Service / English / Home> Iran> Tourism / Monday, December 17th, 2012
