Nineteen World Heritage sites, a simpler visa system and the arrival of big hotel companies mean Iran’s tourism industry is set to rise.<br /><br />Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.st/2F8I0jB<br /> <br />Four million people currently visit Iran each year. The country's tourism organization wants to increase that number to 20 million by 2025.<br /><br />Tourist officials have good reason to be optimistic. Iran has 19 World Heritage Sites, there are ancient mosques, desert tours and hikes, and visitors can ski at resorts less than an hour north of the capital Tehran.<br /> <br />The country's nuclear deal with the West in July 2015 has provided a gateway to develop its tourism industry, largely forgotten since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.<br /> <br />Since the deal, the government under President Hassan Rouhani has simplified Iran's visa system. Citizens of all but 11 countries can obtain a 30 day tourist visa on arrival in Iran. Americans, Britons, and Canadians are not included and must apply for their visas in advance. <br /><br />Most of the country's hotels however are stuck in the late 70s - with interiors desperately in need of modernization. As more people pass through Imam Khomeini International Airport, big hotel companies follow. Aqua hotels, the French Leisure Group, is the first international Hotels Group to operate in Iran. It opened both their Ibis and Novotel brands next to the airport last October.<br /><br />An Abu Dhabi based Hotels Group, Rotana, is planning to build four hotels nationwide, with two in Tehran to be ready in 2018. Iranian officials are hoping to make 30 billion dollars in tourist revenues by 2025. To achieve this the director of tourism says 20 to 25 new hotels must be added every year for a decade - but there are some drawbacks. Women, regardless of their nationality or religion, must cover their body and hair in public, men can't wear shorts, alcohol is forbidden, and credit and debit cards won't work until sanctions are lifted. Still, this may not discourage many foreigners from visiting. <br /><br />Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.<br /><br />For more from Economist Films visit: http://econ.st/2F6DWQL <br />Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk <br />Like The Economist on Facebook: http://econ.st/2F7ejiJ <br />Follow The Economist on Twitter: http://econ.st/2F6SsIo <br />Follow us on Instagram: http://econ.st/2F9Xsfc <br />Follow us on Medium: http://econ.st/2F9NWck
