Page 49 - IRANRptOct19

Iran's tourism sector grew by 1.9% in 2018 to contribute IRR1,158tn ($8.8 bn) or 6.5% of overall GDP and 1,334 jobs (5.4% of total employment) to the economy.
The report added that foreign visitors coming to Iran spent IRR168,954bn ($1.28bn) in 2018 and assessed the foreign arrivals figure as 6.5mn.
Speaking to reporters on September 1, Mounesan said the number of foreign tourists who had arrived Iran between March 21 and July 22 increased by 40% y/y.
By Iran’s own estimates, a total of 7.7mn ‘tourists’ visited Iran in the last Persian year (March 2018-March 2019), a rather higher figure than the WTTC estimated.
Mounesan explained the upward trend in the tourism industry as a result of Iran diversifying its travel and tourism services by, for instance, promoting health and cosmetic surgery tourism, as well as religious tourism.
Iran has extended a visa-waiver programme for Chinese tourists from 15 days to 21 days in a move to boost and ease trade amid US sanctions pressure, according to Mehr News Agency on July 29. ​Chinese visitors to Iran, both business and touristic, are looking to the country with increasing interest as Iran continues to integrate with other Asian countries, including via China’s huge Belt and Road project to roll out trade transit infrastructure across several continents, although most of Iran’s participation in that programme is largely still at the planning stage. Increasing numbers of Chinese are also now learning Persian in Iran with families sending their children to learn more about Persian culture.
Although officially aimed at Chinese tourists, the visa extension decision would include visiting businesspeople from China and those meeting with local commercial counterparts.
The Iranian cabinet​ ​approved a visa-free policy for Chinese nationals​ ​visiting the country, according to the deputy head of the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation (ICHHTO) on June 29, but it was limited to 15 days.
Iran has also lately relaxed visa requirements for visiting citizens of countries in the​Caucasus​​and​E​ urasianEconomicUnion(EEU)​​bloc,andTurkey​​and India​.
9.1.11 ​Metallurgy & mining sector news
Exports of Iranian ore to China sink after Tehran slaps on tariffs
Consignments of Iranian iron ore shipped to the world’s biggest steel maker, China, have reportedly fallen over August and September because of export tariffs added by Tehran.
Iran exported 319,920 tonnes of iron ore to China in August, 37.8% down month on month and 23.4% lower year on year, according to Reuters calculations based on vessel-tracking and port data compiled by Refinitiv. In September so far, China has taken 129,534 tonnes of iron ore from Iran. Earlier this month Iran announced exports of all steelmaking raw materials would be hit with a 25% tariff as officials sought to ensure demand was met in the domestic steel industry, Iranian state-backed media outlet Press TV reported on September 9.
“Not many traders buy iron ore from Iran because of the US sanctions,” Zhao Yu, an analyst with Huatai Futures, told Reuters, adding that the freight charges were also high.
Two Chinese traders told the news agency they could only use cash and telegraphic transfer as payment methods, as it was “too sensitive” to go
49​ IRAN Country Report​ October 2019 www.intellinews.com