Skift Take
If Iran's religious leaders weren't such jerks about who they let visit their country -- no Jews, gays, or unchaperoned women -- they may have a chance of turning their immense cultural and natural resources into the attractions they deserve to be.
Iran unveiled a national plan on Monday, with the main goal of boosting tourism and attracting foreign investment at regions along the Caspian Sea, IRNA reported.
The plan is also aimed at increasing safety in the region, promoting coastal sports venues and creating new jobs.
The first phase of the plan including the launch of a shipping line to the other Caspian Sea states will be implemented within the next two months. The plan will create about 17,000 jobs.
From 2004 to 2010, the annual increase in tourists visiting foreign countries was 3.2 per cent worldwide, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organisation.
Iran’s figures over the same period show tourism grew at a much faster rate, up to 12.7 per cent, the Washington Post reported.
The number of foreign tourists in Iran reached three million last year contributing more than $2 billion to the national economy, according to Iranian data.
(c)2013 Trend News Agency (Baku, Azerbaijan). Distributed by MCT Information Services
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Photo credit: Along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. Beshef / Flickr.com