A PARTNERSHIP established between the Iranian and Chinese governments in August 2011 to facilitate travel between the two countries has created stronger Chinese interest in Iran.
The partnership contract includes the appointment of official travel agencies to handle visa applications and letters of invitation for Chinese travellers. This development has helped to pave the way for more Chinese leisure travel to Iran, which previously drew mostly corporate and government travellers from the Middle Kingdom.
Available air access between China and Iran has also helped. Iranian carrier Mahan Air flies thrice weekly between Tehran and Shanghai, while China Southern Airlines has Tehran-Urumqi services.
As such, Iranian tour operators are now keen to grow their volume of Chinese travellers.
Hadi Shirazi, managing director of Arfa Tour & Travel Agency in Tehran, whose company is one of Iran’s official Chinese tour handlers, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We have seen three times more Chinese business since August 2011.
“Chinese tourists visiting Iran tend to be keen on historical sites. Iranian destinations popular with the Chinese include Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd and Shiraz. They usually stay a week in Iran, and average spend per person is US$800.”
Dina Cheraghvand, marketing manager of Dorna Tour Agency, has also raked in more Chinese business. She said: “We are seeing more Chinese FITs and backpackers but not many groups yet when compared to other countries. This is probably because Chinese travellers still regard Iran as an exotic, lesser-known destination.
“It is clear that Iran’s tourism players are shifting their focus to the East. The Western market tends not to view Iran very well, so we hope the Chinese will regard our country better,” said Cheraghvand, who added that her company is courting travellers from China and Malaysia in particular.
To reduce language barriers, the Iranian Cultural Tourism and Heritage Organisation is training more tour guides to be conversant in Mandarin, according to Shakib.
