Page 40 - IRANRptApr19

Organisation (ICHHTO) official Leila Azhdari.
The largest contributor to foreign arrivals in Iran was Iraq with 2.2mn people. It was followed by Azerbaijan from where 1.3mn visitors hailed. The figures also recorded 700,000 arrivals from Afghanistan.
Azhdari noted that the number of European visitors declined year on year but declined to give a figure on the decrease.
She added that "1,980 US citizens entered the country during the period". Most likely many were visiting Iranian relatives. Very few Americans would have made the trip to Iran for other reasons in the assessed period given the hostility between Washington and Iran over the sanctions-led economic attack which the Trump administration has launched against Tehran.
Looking to reduce fears of travellers to Iran anxious that they might be persecuted at their next destination—particularly with regard to the US and Israel—Iran announced last year that it would no longer stamp the passports of foreigners entering the country.
Iran’s tourism industry has been hit by foreign airlines, wary of getting hit by secondary US sanctions, scrapping their flights to the country.
There have been recent efforts to boost tourism from friendly countries, including Russia and India, but Iran has failed to turn the tide on its declining tourism trade.
In November, Iran and Russia took another step towards mutually abolishing tourist visas .
9.1.10 Metallurgy & mining sector news
Iran Minerals Production Company director Behrouz Borna has said Iran will soon reach a production level of eight tonnes of gold a year, Iran Student News Agency reported on August 15. The country, he added, has the potential to explore 1,000 tonnes of gold deposits.
Assessed proven reserves of gold in Iran's mines currently stand at 250 tonnes. They are being mined by private, public and foreign investors.
"The Geological Organization of Iran has discovered more than 1,000 promising zones for gold of which we have explored 100 zones," Borna reportedly said, adding that there were at least “16 gold regions to explore in the country.” "According to the discovery results of these 100 zones, in 21 provinces the existence of gold for mining has been proven, and 12 have reached the certification of mining and exploration phase," he added.
"There are currently 24 active gold mines in the country with fixed reserves of 250 tonnes, and their probable reserves are 340 tonnes," he said.
Zarshuran mine has the country's largest gold reserves. It can produce three tonnes of gold per year. After Zarshuran, Sarigoni mine, when completed, will become one of Iran's most significant locations for reserves. It is to target three tonnes of gold production by the end of the current Persian Year (ends mid-March, 2019). Iran is the 11th biggest producer of gold in Asia and ranks 43rd in the world for gold production.
9.1.11 Renewable energy sector news
Iran’s nominal electricity production capacity has reached 80,000 megawatts (MW), with several small and medium sized power plants having been brought online around the country in recent months, Tasnim News Agency has reported.
Like its predecessor Ahmadinejad administration, the Rouhani administration has supported the development of several different types of power generation
40 IRAN Country Report April 2019 www.intellinews.com