In a move clearly aimed at promoting Iranian tourism to Francophones, Agence France-Presse and French travel website Melty Discovery published separate pieces on Iranian tourism in French that chronicled Irans rise from an off-limits destination to a potential tourist hotspot, writes the English-language paper Iran Daily.
Iran has found its way back on travel agencies pamphlets following a surge in demand among Western tourists.
Iran is a dream land and one of the half-dozen mythical destinations on the planet, said Jean Paul Chantraine, CEO of Paris-based Asia Travel Agency.
Jean-Pierre Respaut of Clio, who has organized Iranian tours for the past 20 years, agreed with Chantraine and said the number of French tourists visiting Iran is increasing.
Theres an explosive demand to travel [to Iran], which means there is going to be stiff competition, he said.
Respaut said his agency used to take a maximum of 20 groups to Iran every year until 2013, but last year they organized tours for 50 groups, or about 1,000 tourists.
Founder of Terres Lointaines (French for Distant Lands) said his agency aims to take more than 100 tourists to Iran by the yearend.
Calling Iran a diverse, unique, highly cultural and Francophile destination, William Reynaert added that the Mideast country has abundant archeological sites, deserts and open-air museums.
Were contemplating taking about 800 people to the country in 2016, said CEO of Voyageurs du Monde Jean-Francois Rial. I think were going to rely heavily on Iran.
Officials at the Syndicat des Entreprises du Tour Operating, Frances union of tour operators, are astounded by Irans popularity among French travelers.
Jrgen Bachmann, secretary-general of SETO, said 919 French tourists visited Iran between November 2014 and August 2015. Thats more than double last years figure of 409 and incomparable with the 13 tourists a year before, he said.
Shortly after the signing of the nuclear deal, the French daily Le Figaro called the agreement a boon for travel agencies. Citing French tour operators, the article reported a fivefold increase in demand to visit Iran among French travelers.
In response to the international demand to travel to Iran, French group AccorHotels is set to open two international hotels, namely Ibis and Novotel, at Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport on October 15, 2015.
Lackluster infrastructure, especially in terms of lodging, has been singled out by most experts as Iranian tourisms Achilles heel, but economists believe that if Iran manages to draw a considerable number of tourists annually, investors will be encouraged to finance projects.
By IRNA
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