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Visa
In general, Iran has tried to improve its complex and time-consuming
visa application process and has begun to issue week-long visas for
the nationals of 68 countries at airports. An online hotel
reservation system has been developed. Iran will equip all airports
with electronic visa facilities by February 2009 to issue online
entry permits to foreign nationals.
Iran has 15 road border crossings connecting it with Iraq, Turkey,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Rail
lines from Turkey and Turkmenistan can also be used to enter
Iran.[2] About 70% of visitors arrived by land in 2002, about 29% by
air and less than 1% by sea. The price of internal flights is
heavily subsidised, deterring competition and hampering
profitability. In April 2005 the Imam Khomeini International Airport
was reopened under the management of a consortium of four local
airlines¡XMahan Air, Aseman, Caspian Air and Kish Air¡Xalthough no
formal contract appeared to have been awarded.
In the early 2000s the industry still faced serious limitations in
infrastructure, communications, regulatory norms, and personnel
training. In late 2003 there were about
640 hotels in Iran and around 63,000 beds.
Officials state that Iran has in recent years earned about US$1bn a
year from tourism. Iran currently ranks 68th in tourism revenues
worldwide. Iran with attractive natural and historical sites is
rated among the 10 most touristic countries in the world.
Close to 1.8% of national employment is generated in the
tourism sector which is slated to increase to 10% in the next five
years. Weak advertising, unstable
regional conditions, a poor public image in some parts of the world,
and absence of efficient planning schemes in the tourism sector have
all hindered the growth of tourism.
Iran's '20-Year Vision' document projects investment of over $32
billion in the country's tourism sector.[6] In order to encourage
domestic and foreign direct investment in this sector, the 50 per
cent tax exemption previously granted to tourism enterprises has
been extended to include five-star hotels.
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