Can we have hope for the growth of tourism industry in Iran despite strict Islamic laws such as restrictions on clothing choices (for both men and women) and prohibition of alcohol?

I answer the above question with one word: Yes! In the following article, I will discuss the reasons for this answer and address the main problem facing tourism in Iran.

A tourist does not have any special characteristics; they are just like any other human being. In fact, any person who engages in tourism becomes a tourist. With this definition, we should not seek a specific personality type, belief, principle, destination, or any other categorization for a tourist. Among the people who travel to different countries every year for pilgrimage, there are those who do it for spiritual reasons, those who want to be called a “Haji,” and those who go on behalf of someone else. Sir Richard Francis Burton, who went on pilgrimage in 1853, knew that if they found out he was not really Haji Abdullah and that he was not from India, but rather an irreligious officer in the British army, he would lose his life. But the attraction of completing this strange and curious mission and his sense of adventure drove him to this side. The legendary Malian emperor, Mansa Musa, who is famous for being the richest person in all of history

In Hajj, which means a journey that must have a single meaning for Muslims, there is diversity in taste and motivation; whether it comes to tourism in other cities and places. One of the most important foreign destinations for Iranians is Istanbul. When the plane lands at the destination airport, people scatter: some go directly to a shop to buy alcoholic drinks at a cheaper price than in the city, some go to a hotel, and others go straight to shopping centers. Among the latter group, it is very common for them to return to their origin with a flight a few hours later and with a lot of goods. Of course, this group cannot be simply seen as merchants who do this for some profit. When I was writing an article to guide travelers in shopping for clothes during their trip, I did not know that a few years later, the family of one of the leaders of the authorities might need that article during their trip to Istanbul. If they had asked for my advice before packing, I

Other travelers have the same variety of destinations. Some go to see cultural, historical, or natural sites, some go to relax or experience a different climate than their own home, some go for excitement, some go for business, and many other reasons. Which tourists choose Iran as their destination?

Two main categories: those who live in Iran and travel within Iran, and those who come from another country. For the first group, visiting Shiraz, Yazd, and Kish, or seeing a doctor in Tehran, or pilgrimage to Mashhad are very common. However, a significant portion of the profit that could have gone to the tourism industry in Iran goes to Dubai, Istanbul, or Batumi. Seeing Iranian families without headscarves for women and wearing shorts for men and holding alcohol in hand in any of these destinations is not strange. But these families probably also make a trip to Isfahan or the north. Foreign tourists, on the other hand, face other challenges.

When talking about foreign tourists, I unconsciously remember the years when I was a tour guide. I used to see two types of foreign travelers more than others: a group who were usually older, went to good hotels with modern buses, and mostly only visited Isfahan and Shiraz, and sometimes Kashan instead of other places. For this group, Iran is usually a cradle of civilization, where at least they should see the poetry and wine of Shiraz and the legend of Isfahan. The second group, mostly young people seeking excitement and discovery, have big backpacks and sleep in cheap hostels. This group can also be seen in South Khorasan or Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. If they can stay at someone’s house, have a meal, or travel with a truck driver from one city to another, it is better for them to see more destinations with less expense. I exempt pilgrim tourists from Shia countries who go to Mashhad for pilgrimage

The main problem, in my opinion, is something else. The law of every country can be justified for tourists. Someone who stays in Iran for a few days can even wear a headscarf in the summer heat or stay away from alcohol for a few days. I have no opinion on the merits or flaws of these laws, but in my opinion, they can even be attractive for tourists – especially for those who come to Iran. We went somewhere that was different from other places, a land of wonders where all restaurants served alcohol-free drinks and ethanol was only used for disinfection. The main problem is that tourists who come to Iran do not know if they can return or not. What if they get caught in espionage? What if they become hostages in the relationship between their government and the Iranian government? We, ordinary people, do not know what goes on behind the scenes between governments. Hijab is a law, alcohol ban is a law, and they are enforced. But is fair trial

If I were a decision maker, in the current economic crisis in Iran in recent years, I might have arranged for some areas to overlook the discriminatory treatment between Iranians and foreigners, and ignore the veil and alcohol. Perhaps we could have made better use of the long and unique southern coasts. But again, with the same assumption, if there is no judicial security, no one will go to Kish and Chabahar. A few kilometers further, there are the same things; but with the guarantee of the safety and freedom of tourists. The person who has to bring a few hundred dollars in cash with them to Iran, if they don’t know whether they will return alive or not, whether they will be compensated or not, in the end, maybe their trip to Iran will be equivalent to a trip to the afterlife, why should they come to Iran? A tourist may be adventurous enough to go bungee jumping or paragliding, but they are not foolish enough to

Note:

1- Clothing for travel; what clothes should I take? What clothes should I buy?ان

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