Iran’s Razavi Khorasan generates significant revenue from tourism
MASHHAD, Iran (MNTV) – Iran’s Razavi Khorasan Province earns substantial revenue from international tourism, attracting approximately 3.5 million visitors annually—nearly half of the country’s total foreign tourist arrivals.
On average, each tourist contributes around $1,500 to the province’s economy, with the majority originating from Pakistan, Persian Gulf states, and Central Asian countries, according to Tehran Times.
Medical tourism has played a particularly vital role in drawing visitors from Arab nations, generating $10 million in revenue during the past Iranian calendar year (ending March 20, 2025).
To further boost tourism, the province has intensified efforts to strengthen ties with neighboring countries through economic delegations to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
These initiatives have already yielded results, including increased direct flights between Mashhad and major Pakistani cities—rising from one to two weekly flights, with plans for a third.
Given Pakistan’s sizable Shia Muslim population of 50 million, many travelers seek to visit the revered shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.
Similar measures have been implemented to enhance connectivity with Uzbekistan, including direct flights from Mashhad to Samarkand and Bukhara, alongside 30–50% discounts on travel services for Uzbek tourists.
In Tajikistan, visa exemptions secured through presidential negotiations, along with direct Mashhad-Dushanbe flights, have significantly increased visitor numbers, particularly during Nowruz celebrations.
Additionally, Razavi Khorasan has organized specialized cultural programs highlighting the region’s heritage and historical figures to further attract Tajik tourists.
Mashhad, Iran’s holiest city, is home to the magnificent shrine of the eighth Shia Imam, surrounded by numerous high-end hotels and lodging facilities.
In August 2020, the pilgrimage tradition to Imam Reza’s shrine was officially recognized as part of Iran’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
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