Iran's ambassador to Russia expects a twofold increase in the tourist flow between the countries this year.

ST.PETERSBURG (Sputnik)�� Iran's ambassador to�Russia expects a major growth in�tourist relations between�the two countries in�2016, Iran's Ambassador to�Russia Mehdi Sanaei said at�the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

"I am sure that this year we will witness a twofold increase in�the tourism area," he said.

Earlier this year, Sanaei suggested that Tehran may unilaterally cancel tourist visas for�Russian citizens.

Russia�s agreement with�Iran simplifying visa requirements for�tourists, businesspeople and other categories of�travelers took effect on�February 6.

The 2016 SPIEF is taking place on�June 16-18. The agenda for�SPIEF 2016, which is held at�a new venue for�the first time in�20 years�� at�the Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Centre�� includes business forums of�the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the Business 20.

According to�the organizing committee, the number of�contracts at�SPIEF is expected to�be not less than�in 2015 when the total volume of�agreements reached 293 billion rubles ($4.4 billion). Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on�Tuesday that the number of�SPIEF participants would exceed 10,000 this year, compared to�7,500 in�2015.

By Sputnik News