[caption id="attachment_153328" align="alignright" width="217"] Iran has a diverse landscape and its tourism industry offers a myriad of recreational opportunities.[/caption]
Orumiyeh, West Azarbaijan prov, March 12, IRNA - Over 490,000 foreign tourists have entered Iran through northwestern borders during the current Iran year (started March 21, 2014), a provincial official said on Thursday.




Talking to IRNA, deputy head of West Azerbaijan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Hossein Emami said the tourists entered the country via West Azarbaijan province border terminals.

The incoming tourists were mainly from Turkey, Iraq and Azerbaijan Republic, he added.

So far, 1,472 historical sites in West Azerbaijan province have been registered in National Heritage List.

Last month, Vice President and Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization Masoud Soltanifar said while some economic sectors are in depression or trying to get out of it, tourism industry in Iran enjoys a growing trend.

Soltanifar said according to statistics, the number of foreign tourists visiting Iran during the past year was remarkable and the situation of domestic tourism was quite different now as it showed a growing trend.

'A glance at the foreign media shows that tourists who come to Iran, after returning to their countries, introduce the real image of Iran and thoroughly remove the distorted picture made by enemies,' said Soltanifar.


By IRNA