European tourists in Esfahan / Isfahan, Iran

The entry of European tourists to Iran has risen 240 percent between April 9 and May 10 compared to the same period last year, Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization Director Masoud Soltanifar said on Saturday.

Most of the 4- and 5-star hotels in the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, and Kashan have been fully reserved by European tourists for the next six months, the IRNA news agency quoted Soltanifar as saying.

Iran may be set to return to the top of “must-visit” lists for 2014, the Financial Times said in a report in January.

The Financial Times article:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e4f47a04-6972-11e3-89ce-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2plOF8yt7

Its attractions have never been in doubt — from ski resorts to beaches, stunning Islamic architecture, ancient archaeological sites, and superb food.

Now, tour operators are hoping the thawing of political relations with the west following the election of Hassan Rouhani as president will give travelers the reassurance they need to return.

Source: Tehran Times