German Tour Operator Reports Major Iran Tourist Boom

Berlin, March 12, IRNA - There is a major surge in the number of German tourists visiting Iran, according to a German tour operator. Talking to IRNA on the sidelines of the just-concluded 48th ITB Berlin Tourism Fair, the director of the Germany-based Orient Express Travel Agency, Hartmut Niemann said, ˈThe number of Iran bookings has risen four times more than the past and I expect that the number to increase even further over the next months.ˈ The great influx of tourists in Iran has apparently surprised Iranian tourism officials as there appears to be now a shortage of hotel rooms and experienced tour guides, he added. Niemann stressed that German tourists to travel to Iran to witness not only modern urban Iran but also the ancient places in the country. German tourists also want to experience the unique hospitality and warmth of Iranians, he said. Niemann pointed out that while historical cities like Shiraz and Isfahan remain the top destinations for German visitors, there is also a mounting interest in Iranian ecotourism./end