Health tourists spend $1.5b in Iran

[Feyen]

Some 200,000 health tourists arrived in Iran in the past Iranian year (ended March 20, 2013), earning $1.5 billion for the country.

Announcing this in the inauguration ceremony of Qaem Hospital in Rasht, Gilan province, Manouchehr Jahanian, the deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said these tourists were from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Turkey, India and Pakistan, IRNA reported.

Referring to the attention paid by the ninth and tenth governments to improvement tourism, he said about 4.5 million tourists visited Iran during the last year, which earned $9 billion for the country and generated 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

“The four-season climate and the beautiful nature of Iran are among the most important tourism attractions of the country,” he said.

The official said that in addition to the climatic diversity and tourism attractions of Gilan province, Qaem Hospital, with modern medical equipment, can promote the health tourism sector of Iran to the world.

Referring to the high potential of Iran in the field of health tourism, the official said improvement of medical services at a minimum cost is the main slogan of health tourism sector of the world.

http://english.irib.ir/radioculture/iran/tourism/item/83858-health-tourists-spend-$15b-in-iran

 

[Barakah]

9 Billion? Out of 4.5 Million Tourists? So that means each person spent 2 thousand dollars? seems believable

 

[Feyen]

9 Billion? Out of 4.5 Million Tourists? So that means each person spent 2 thousand dollars? seems believable

by average, yes. is that so surprising?

 

[Barakah]

No its actually very realistic. Just being curious thats all.

 

[Esfand]

“The four-season climate and the beautiful nature of Iran are among the most important tourism attractions of the country,” he said.

The most important factor (for western tourists) is the culture/heritage, by far. Two of my friends are architects, and have both visited Iran in combination with their studies.

 

[Abii]

Well if this regime wasn't in place, you could multiply that figure by at least 20 times

The 2 million Iranians in North America alone would spend more than a billion in the first year of the regime's eventual premenant trip to arabistan.

If these figures are a source of pride for this regime, than that's just pathetic. Iran, with 7000 years of history and a great infrastructure compared to hot spots for tourists like Egypt/India... should have insanely larger number of tourists. Iran is semi-developed, we have good infrastructure, fantastic history, hundreds of things to see and yet, just b/c of an arabesque 6th century mullah regime, we have to suffer.

 

[BATMAN]

The most important factor (for western tourists) is the culture/heritage, by far. Two of my friends are architects, and have both visited Iran in combination with their studies.

Indians are mostly working on construction projects in Iran or run restaurants.

They are only there to earn money not to spend money.

 

[Abii]

Indians are mostly working on construction projects in Iran or run restaurants.

They are only there to earn money not to spend money.

And how the fuuu would you know that?

 

[Bhai Zakir]

Good to hear it from Iran.

BTW, US $ 1.5 billion figure in inflated beyond reasons.

India is one of the top Medical tourism destination in the world where millions of patients from different countries visits like USA, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria etc. etc.

Still India's medical tourism industry is of US$ 3 billion only.

 

[Vlad.Nikoleich]

Indians are mostly working on construction projects in Iran or run restaurants.

They are only there to earn money not to spend money.

you sure? Iran is not exactly the best place to make money right now. Considering all the recent news about Iranian currency nose diving and all, those Indians must be out of their minds to be working there. Tourism however would make sense, ironically for the same reason.

 

[Boisttt]

Indians are mostly working on construction projects in Iran or run restaurants.

They are only there to earn money not to spend money.

To be honest, i as a Iranian would prefer Indians over Pakistanis, even if there are Indians in Iran we Iranians dont have to fear that the next day he will go suicide bomb a bazaar or something. Iran-Indian friendship is much worthier.

Btw, there are not that many Indians in Iran