Iran was crowned AFC Beach Soccer Championship Malaysia 2017 champion on Saturday after beating the UAE 7-2 in Kuala Terengganu.
#AFCBeachSoccer2017
M23 United Arab Emirates vs Islamic Republic of Iran – News Report
The UAE’s Haitham Mohamed opened the match with an impressive effort which Iran goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini saved well, but it was to be Iran which would draw first blood, Moslem Mesigar tapping home from close range to hand his side an early lead, the-afc.com reported.
Clearly, boosted by its goal, Iran immediately doubled its advantage through Hosseini’s impressive strike, before Iran skipper Mohammad Ahmadzadeh fired a volley, just inches wide.
With the UAE failing to make an impression, Iran struck again as Mohammad-Ali Mokhtari’s penalty rounded off a fine first period for the Iranians.
Kamal Ali then went close with a volley as the Emiratis tried to rally. However, worse was to come for them as Mesigar’s cool header found the net with keeper Humaid Jamal rooted to the spot.
It was to be Jamal who eventually dragged the UAE back into the game with an impressive finish four minutes from time, a brief glimmer of hope that shone even brighter when Haitham Mohamed scored following neat approach play.
It was, however, not to be for the UAE, as an accurate Ali Nazem free-kick, followed by Amir Akbari’s volley and a Mokhtari penalty sealed a win – and the title – for the Iranians.
President praise
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa congratulated Iran on capturing the Asian title.
In the earlier third and fourth place match, Japan edged out Lebanon 6-3 to secure its spot, alongside Iran and the UAE, as Asia’s three representatives at the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017, which will be played in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, from April 27 to May 7, 2017.
Shaikh Salman said, “I would like to congratulate Islamic Republic Iran who were a formidable force from start to finish. UAE should also be praised for their brilliant efforts in a captivating final.
“Along with Japan, Asia has three teams of outstanding quality and I am confident that they will do the continent proud in the Bahamas.”
The AFC President also paid tribute to Terengganu, Malaysia and the Local Organizing Committee for hosting a memorable tournament. “On behalf of the Asian football family, I must convey my appreciation to the Terengganu State Sports Council and the Terengganu State Government for their warm hospitality and displaying excellence in organizing a truly exceptional competition.
“This is the first time the tournament was hosted in Southeast Asia and it once again represents the AFC’s Vision and Mission to better engage with passionate football fans across the continent.”
The newly-crowned champion of Asia has been drawn to face Italy, Mexico and Nigeria in Group B at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017. Meanwhile, runner-up the UAE is in Group C, where it will compete against Panama, Paraguay and Portugal. Third-placed Japan will feature in Group D comprising Brazil, Poland and Tahiti at the Bahamas Beach Stadium in Nassau.
Iran will open Asia’s campaign in the Bahamas against Mexico on April 27, 3.30 p.m. (local time). Japan and the UAE will begin their conquests the following day on April 28 against Poland and Paraguay at 3.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. (local time) respectively.
Physical fitness, Iran’s trump card
Following the final showdown, Iran head coach Mohammad Hossein Mirshamsi praised the performance of his players, saying, “We were ready for this game and we knew that the UAE were tired as it was a tough semifinal game against Lebanon for them.
“I think today’s game was easy for us. The most important advantage that we had over the UAE today was physical fitness. We were thankful for that.
“Looking back, I think our most difficult match in this competition was our encounter against Japan in the semifinals, but we analyzed the UAE’s games and I believe we were ahead of them in terms of tactics and technique.”
Mirshami believed Asia is now well placed to challenge for honors come April’s global extravaganza in the Bahamas.
“It is good that Iran, the UAE and Japan are all representing Asia [at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup],” he said.
“I believe we now have a strong Asian presence at the World Cup.”
Iranian film ‘The Salesman’ on Sunday won the Oscar for best foreign language film, but director Asghar Farhadi skipped the Hollywood gala to protest a travel ban by US President Donald Trump.
Farhadi initially said he would head to Hollywood for Oscars night, where his film — the story of two actors whose relationship turns sour during a performance of Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ — earned a statuette.
However, after citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries were briefly denied entry last month to the United States, he decided there were too many ‘ifs and buts’ about whether he would be allowed to enter the country.
Instead, thousands of people watched ‘The Salesman’ for free in London’s Trafalgar Square.
In a statement read out at the Oscars ceremony on Farhadi’s behalf by Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American astronaut, Farhadi said the empathy filmmakers can foster is needed today more than ever. Ansari was joined onstage by another accomplished Iranian-American, Firouz Naderi, a former NASA director.
“I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight,” Farhadi’s statement read. “My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US.
“Dividing the world into the ‘us’ and ‘our enemies’ categories creates fear.”
At the age of just 44, Farhadi has established himself as Iran’s most acclaimed director, touching people around the globe with stories that resonate beyond borders.
This was his second film to win an Oscar in the foreign language film category, following the 2012 victory for ‘A Separation’ — a stark, powerful family drama about Iran’s fractured social classes, which also picked up a Golden Globe.
Coming at another dark time in relations between the United States and Iran, when international sanctions were at their peak, Farhadi’s 2012 speech was lauded back home for putting Iranian art, culture and history above politics.
But this time, politics trumped art.
Best Foreign Language Film The Salesman Asghar Farhadi (Iran) is accepted by a designated woman reading Farhadi’s statement. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Farhadi’s lead actress, Taraneh Alidoosti, also boycotted the event, calling Trump’s visa ban ‘racist’.
The measure has been put on ice by the US federal courts, and Trump’s White House is devising a new order.
Born in 1972 near the ancient city of Isfahan, Farhadi was swiftly drawn towards the arts, becoming interested in writing, drama and cinema while still at school.
He later took courses at the Iranian Young Cinema Society and graduated with a master’s degree in film direction from Tehran University in 1998.
‘The Salesman’ also found success at last year’s Cannes film festival, with Farhadi winning best screenplay and his star Shahab Hosseini named best actor.
It was his second official festival selection after his French-language film ‘The Past’ in 2013, which won the ecumenical jury prize.
89th Academy Awards – Oscars Backstage – Hollywood, California, U.S. – 26/02/17 – Anousheh Ansari and Firouz Naderi pose with the Oscar they accepted on behalf of Asghar Farhadi, who won the Best Foreign Language Film for “The Salesman”. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson – RTS10HRL
The structure of Farhadi’s scripts “is always complex but fluid”, cinema writer Beatrice de Mondenard said at the time.
“He seeks to show the difficulties inherent in relationships between people, the choices faced by everyone, choices which make us question our values and our convictions.”
Farhadi’s ‘About Elly’, which tells of a woman who vanishes on a beach getaway with friends, scooped the Silver Bear award for best director at the 2009 Berlin film festival.
Other films include ‘Dancing In The Dust’, ‘Fireworks Wednesday’ and ‘Beautiful City’.
Late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami was also honored at the 89th Academy Awards.
The Academy awards ceremony named Kiarostami in a video that honored the world artists who passed away in 2016.
Kiarostami was also an accomplished photographer and painter. His last film was ‘Like Someone in Love’ (2012) — a romantic drama set in Japan — was nominated for a Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Congratulations
Iranians cheered the choice of one of their own for the best foreign film Oscar, lauding director Farhadi’s boycott of the Hollywood ceremony for his film as an act of defiance against the Trump administration.
The six nominated directors in the foreign language category had put out a joint statement ahead of the award decrying what they called the climate of ‘fanaticism’ in the United States and dedicating the award to the promotion of ‘unity and understanding’ regardless of who won.
Film critic Esmaeil Mihandoost, who wrote a book about Farhadi, told AP that thanks to the boycott, the film director has now “more influence on public opinion than a politician”.
“It created an exceptional opportunity for criticism” of Trump’s policy,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he saw the prize as taking a stance against Trump’s executive order. “Proud of Cast and Crew of ‘The Salesman’ for Oscar and stance against #MuslimBan. Iranians have represented culture and civilization for millennia,” he tweeted in English.
Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri praised Farhadi both for the award and for boycotting the ceremony, calling it a ‘priceless action’.
Farhadi had organized a free screening of ‘The Salesman’ in London’s Trafalgar Square on Sunday.
89th Academy Awards – Oscars Backstage – Hollywood, California, U.S. – 26/02/17 – Anousheh Ansari and Firouz Naderi pose with the Oscar they accepted on behalf of Asghar Farhadi, who won the Best Foreign Language Film for “The Salesman”. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson – RTS10HRP
Meanwhile, Iran’s Culture Minister Abbas Salehi-Amiri congratulated Iranian filmmaker for winning the Oscar and commended his stance against the racist policy of Trump administration against refugees.
“In today’s chaotic, insecure and dark world, it is altruism, pacifism and a shining light which bring freedom-seeking people together, and you [Asghar Farhadi] were successful in using the expressive language of the arts to convey the peaceful message of Iran and the Iranians beyond geographical borders,” he said in his message to Farhadi for winning his second Oscar.
“Your symbolic absence at the Academy Awards as a protest against the shortsighted and racist policies of America’s novice politicians against refugees brought together many with a good conscience together and removed the mask from the false faces of those so-called defenders of human rights, at the same time as it displayed to the world the true, culture-loving image of the Iranians,” he added.
He underlined, “As of today, the world acknowledges that the ‘Iranophobia’ project was nothing but a deceit, and you managed to tie the Iranian outlook of contemporary ills of humanity with the shared outlook of the whole world.
“Your message today was the message of sympathy, empathy and solidarity.”
He concluded, “No doubt, Iranian cinema with its major share in promoting and fostering culture and national security, can make great use of such opportunities to introduce the Iranian arts on an international level.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the crowds: “President Trump cannot silence me. We stand in solidarity with Asghar Farhadi, one of the world’s greatest directors.”
2017 Academy Award winners
The coming-of-age drama ‘Moonlight’ won the best picture at the 89th annual Academy Awards Sunday night in a chaotic ending.
The film won after ‘La La Land’ was mistakenly announced as the best picture winner.
Presenter Warren Beatty said he paused so long before the name was read because the envelope read Emma Stone, ‘La La Land’. Actress Faye Dunaway read the name ‘La La Land’ after chiding Beatty for taking so long to read the winner.
The film tells the story of a boy’s journey to adulthood through his rough upbringing in Miami. The film stars Naomi Harris as the boy’s drug-addicted mother, and Mahershala Ali as a drug dealer-turned mentor for the boy.
The winners are as follows:
Best Picture: ‘Moonlight’
Actor: Casey Affleck, ‘Manchester by the Sea’
Actress: Emma Stone, ‘La La Land’
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, ‘Moonlight’
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, ‘Fences’
Directing: Damien Chazelle, ‘La La Land’
Foreign Language Film: ‘The Salesman’, Iran
Adapted Screenplay: ‘Moonlight’, screenplay by Barry Jenkins, story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, ‘Manchester by the Sea’
Production Design: ‘La La Land’, Production Design: David Wasco; Set Decoration: Sandy Reynolds Wasco
Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, ‘La La Land’
Sound Mixing: ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace
Sound Editing: ‘Arrival’, Sylvain Bellemare
Original Score: ‘La La Land’, Justin Hurwitz
Original Song: ‘City of Stars’ from ‘La La Land’, music by Justin Hurwitz, lyric by Ben Pasek and Justin Paul
Costume Design: Colleen Atwood, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’
Documentary (short subject): ‘The White Helmets’, Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara
Documentary Feature: ‘O.J.: Made in America’, Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow
Film Editing: ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, John Gilbert
Makeup and Hairstyling: ‘Suicide Squad’, Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson
Animated Feature Film: ‘Zootopia’, Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer
Animated Short Film: ‘Piper’, Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer
Live Action Short Film: ‘Sing’, Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy
Visual Effects: ‘The Jungle Book’, Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Kish Island 3-Star 2017 wrapped up in Kish Island on Saturday evening, with Russia 1, Poland and Russia 2 standing at first, second and third places, respectively.
Russia’s Nikita Liamin/Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Poland’s Kantor/Losiak came up with straight-set wins over their rivals to progress to the final of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Kish Island 3-Star on Saturday.
Liamin/Krasilnikov outplayed Germany’s Lorenz Schumann/Julius Thole 2-0 (21-19, 21-15), while Kantor/Losiak overpowered Stoyanovskiy/Yarzutkin 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) in the semifinals.
Liamin/Krasilnikov’s slow start allowed Schumann/Thole to gain the early lead in the first set, but the Russian’s better performance down the stretch secured them the set-win at 21-19. The Russian pair kept their pace and capitalised on the German’s missed attacks to seal set and match victory at 21-15.
Kantor/Losiak took control early on in the match, while Stoyanovski/Yarzutkin struggled on their attacks. Kantor mounted several excellent blocks, which provided the Polish side to gain cushion and win both sets at 21-13 and 21-17.
Schumann/Thole can still earn their first-ever World Tour medal against last year’s Kish Island silver medallists Stoyanovskiy/Yarzutkin in the bronze medal match at 15:00 local time, while Liamin/Krasilnikov will play their first final together against last year’s bronze winners Kantor/Losiak at 16:00.
Iranian kamancheh player, Keyhan Kalhor, is a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s ‘Silk Road Ensemble’ that has won the Grammy for Best World Music Album.
Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma won a Grammy with his Silk Road Ensemble for ‘Sing Me Home’, an exploration of the musical connections across Eurasia, AFP reported.
Player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music, Kalhor played kamancheh, an Iranian bowed string instrument, in the ensemble.
The 59th Annual Grammy Awards were held Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during which top musical works in the past year were praised and awarded.
The French-born Chinese-American cellist, Yo Yo Ma had previously won an impressive 17 Grammys, but his latest is his first for Best World Music Album.
He set up the multinational band, the Silk Road Ensemble, to bring together musicians from the historic route that connected the Middle East and Asia, in hopes both of finding artistic commonalities and furthering the cause of intercultural understanding.
In its website, the band said, “Sing Me Home” is a tribute to the ways culture can help us encounter, connect, and build something new. We need your support to continue developing new work that embraces the type of radical cross-cultural collaboration that we believe will lead to a more harmonious world.
‘Sing Me Home’ started with deliberately loose guidelines, as skilled artists from the Silk Road chose works that were personally important to them and jammed with other musicians, spontaneously finding their own form of fusion.
New York-based Syrian clarinet player, Kinan Azmeh, who was recently stranded overseas when US President Donald Trump imposed a ban, was among those who worked on the album, the Hindu reported.
Das, also a member of the ensemble, dressed in a red kurta, said the ensemble sent a powerful message of unity and respect for each other’s cultures.
“When things like this happen, it impacts us directly because a lot of us come from a lot of those countries,” Das told reporters after accepting the award.
“In the current situation, I think we’ll keep playing more music and sharing more love.”
Hundreds of Iranian wrestling enthusiasts and correspondents have extended their friendly welcome to American wrestlers, who arrived in the country to take part in the 2017 Freestyle World Cup in Kermanshah.
The US freestyle wrestling team landed at Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Airport in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah, located 525 kilometers west of the capital, Tehran, on Monday afternoon and was given a warm reception upon arrival.
The fourteen American athletes, who will be with the team for the two-day-long tournament, include Anthony Ramos and Nahshon Garrett in the 57-kilogram weight category, in addition to Jayson Ness and Logan Stieber in the 61-kilogram section.
Frank Aniello Molinaro will be in action in the 65-kilogram weight division, while James Green and Jordan Micheal Oliver will compete in the 70-kilogram category.
Jordan Ernest Burroughs and Alex Dieringer will take on their opponents in the 74-kilogram weight class, while Richard Perry and David Taylor will wrestle with world-class rivals in the 84-kilogram bouts.
Kyle Frederick Snyder will vie for top honors in the 97-kilogram, and Zach Rey and Nick Gwiazdowski will participate in the 125-kilogram weight division contests.
The American men’s freestyle wrestling team is led by William Michael Zadick as the head coach.
Zadick told reporters at Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Airport that the world’s eight best freestyle wrestling teams are coming together in Kermasnshah to bring honor to their countries and claim the world title.
Internationally recognized wrestlers will take to the mat during the Freestyle World Cup; therefore it is rather difficult to clinch a victory in the competition. American wrestlers are fully prepared for the contests and will try to take the championship, he added.
On Monday 5, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced in a statement that the visa ban against American athletes was dropped following “the halt in the implementation of discriminatory restrictive measures against the entry of Iranian citizens into the US as well as requests by the Iran Wrestling Federation and the president of the United World Wrestling.”
“Following the court ruling suspending #MuslimBan & the requests from Iranian Wrestling Federation & FILA, US Wrestlers’ visa will be granted,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted as well.
Earlier, Federal Judge James L. Robart had ordered a temporary and nationwide halt to US President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban on citizens from seven predominately Muslim nations, including Iran.
The 2017 Freestyle World Cup is scheduled to be held at Imam Khomeini Sport Venue in Kermanshah, western Iran, on February 16 and 17.
The Iranian team has been drawn in Pool B along with India, Mongolia and Turkey.
Pool A consists of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and the United States.
The participating teams will wrestle all three rounds of group action on February 16 to determine pool placements.
The teams will cross over to face their counterpart from the opposite pool in a classification contest the next day.
A delegation, comprising senior officials of Poland’s largest oil company, is scheduled to visit Tehran in coming days aiming to ink a contract for developmental of Iranian oilfields.
Poland has begun new cooperation with Iran in the post-JCPOA era over development of oil trade as well as collaborations for investment in upstream sector of Iranian oil and gas industry.
So far, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed spot contracts for crude sales to Lotos S.A. and PKN Orlen while negotiations have also begun with another Polish oil giant for investment in Iranian oil and gas industry.
Managing Director of National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) Bijan Alipour, while pointing to the held talks with a Polish firm over implementing developmental projects and boosting recovery factor in southern Iranian oilfields, announced that senior officials of a Polish oil and gas refinery will travel to Iran late January to finalize talks with Iran.
Moreover, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), in a statement released last week, affirmed adequacy of 29 international oil and gas companies willing to put in tenders for Iran’s upstream oil sector with the name of Poland’s PGNiG SA on the list.
Poland’s biggest refiner PKN Orlen announced a major purchase of crude oil from Iran thus becoming the latest company to join the already long list of European clients of Iranian oil.
What’s more, NIOC and PGNiG have recently signed into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for development of Sumar field in west Iran.
In the same line, Deputy Head of NIOC for Development and Engineering Affairs Gholamreza Manouchehri has described the deal with the Polish over Sumar oilfield saying “PGNiG will conduct studies in the field for six months before making a proposal and a contract will be inked in case both side reach agreement.”
Chairman of Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA (PGNiG) Peter Wozniak referred to the age-old history of ties between Iran and Poland stressing that his company had returned to Iran after a six-year hiatus, “given our outstanding experiences in Pakistan and Norway, we will hopefully succeed in development of Sumar field.”
From 2006 to 2010, PGNiG held several talks with Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) for expansion of Lavan gas field in the Persian Gulf and eventually refused to cooperate with NIOC after years of using delaying tactics.
Bordering Iraq in the west of Kermanshah province, Sumar oil field was discovered in 2009 and is believed to hold an in-place reserve of 475 million barrels of which 70 million barrels is recoverable.
A look at what transpired in the past 12 months in Iran’s gradually-developing travel industry: This was a good year for Iran’s nascent tourism sector. Old flight routes resumed operations while new ones were established, the UNESCO World Heritage List featured two more Iranian sites and reputable international groups announced plans to open hotels in Iran.
With 2016 about to take a curtain call, here’s a look at what the year had in store for Iran’s travel industry:
January
The lifting of western-backed economic sanctions on Iran on January 16 set the stage for the country’s emerging tourism sector to begin developing its vastly underdeveloped infrastructure.
Iran Air, the national flag carrier, resumed refueling at airports in Western Europe only three days after the sanctions were removed.
Jamshid Hamzehzadeh, president of the Iranian Hoteliers’ Society, announced that an online hotel booking platform would be launched before the end of January.
February
Tourism officials revealed that Tehran and Paris signed a memorandum of understanding in January when President Hassan Rouhani was visiting the French capital. The purpose of the agreement was to broaden bilateral tourism cooperation.
Training of hotel staff and managers by French experts, increasing bilateral tourism flow and developing Iran’s infrastructure were outlined in the agreement.
Another agreement signed in November between Russia and Iran to simplify visa issuance procedures went into effect on February 6, in what the Russian media called “the first step toward a visa-free regime”.
The Ninth Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, the first tourism expo in the post-sanctions era, was held to a mixed reception. Although international participation had improved compared to the previous year, local exhibitors were clearly aiming for domestic travelers rather than the international market, because they did not expect a huge foreign visitor turnout.
Looking to forge closer ties with Iran, Georgia abolished its visa rules for Iranian nationals.
March
March was a relatively quiet month, but it did have one major event: the Spain-based Melia Hotels International announced plans to open a five-star hotel in Salman-Shahr, Mazandaran Province.
Slated to open in 2017, the 130-meter tower by the Caspian Sea will be Iran’s first foreign-branded seaside hotel in almost 40 years.
French hotel group Accor, which brought its Novotel and Ibis brands to Iran in November 2015, signed an MoU with Iran’s Tourism Holding Company to help the company train hotel staff and upgrade lodgings.
April
Taiwan announced it had eased visa requirements for Iranian citizens by scrapping the need for a letter of guarantee from an individual residing in Taiwan to issue visas to Iranian nationals.
The Global Geoparks Network approved Iran’s dossiers for Qeshm Geopark, bringing it a step closer to regaining its spot in the network.
The Middle East’s only UNESCO-listed geopark, Qeshm Geopark was dropped from the coveted list in 2012 due to problems that have remained unresolved for too long, such as underdeveloped infrastructure and unenforced environmental regulation.
May
The highly anticipated Silk Road Ultramarathon (May 2-9) was held in Kerman Province’s Shahdad Desert, with 100 runners from countries spanning four continents—Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
The United States returned 73 relics to Iran after prolonged discussions between the two countries, according to the Foreign Ministry. The artifacts, which date back to the Sassanid era (224–651), had been smuggled out of Iran.
Six new museums opened on May 18, coinciding with the International Museum Day. The museums are either partially or fully owned by private stakeholders, in line with the government’s policy of promoting private ownership of museums.
The sales of items crafted by Iranian artisans in the 26th Iran Handicrafts Exhibition in Tehran set a new record this year, with sales amounting to 58 billion rials ($1.4 million), up from 28 billion rials ($693,000) a year ago.
Tourism officials reached agreements with Turkish and German firms to build a combined 20 hotels in the next 10 years in Iran.
June
Iran’s ATA Airlines launched flights on Tehran-Baku-Tabriz route, which operate twice a week, while Mahan Air expanded its growing flight network by establishing direct flights between Tehran and the Danish capital Copenhagen.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration agreed to reduce tariffs for the import of hotel equipment to support the country’s hotel industry. Categorized as luxury items, hotel equipment are taxed at the highest possible rate, which analysts say has impacted the industry and contributed to high room rates.
An ambitious $750-million plan to construct a tourist resort on Qeshm Island was unveiled. The resort will cover 46 hectares and include Qeshm’s first-ever five-star hotel, which will include 200 rooms and 150 suites. The multipurpose complex will also be equipped with sports, cultural and commercial facilities, including a multiplex cinema, an amphitheater, tennis and badminton courts, a gym and two football fields.
July
Iran’s ancient Qanat system and Lut Desert were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee, increasing the number of world heritage sites in Iran to 21—more than any other country in the Middle East.
Iran banned all tours to Turkey following the failed coup attempt to topple the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The chaos in Turkey left 10,000 Iranian tourists stranded but they managed to return home gradually on planes sent to Turkey for this particular purpose.
August
Iranian and Armenian officials waived the visa regime, opening their borders to allow free travel between the neighboring countries.
The first Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting on Tourism was held in the northwestern city of Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province. The two-day summit was hosted by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.
Iran lifted its ban on tours to Turkey following discussions between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
September
British Airways resumed direct flights to Iran after a nearly four-year suspension, following the lifting of sanctions on the country.
Describing Tehran as “an important destination” for the airline, BA said it was going operate six return flights per week between London Heathrow and the Iranian capital, which will be increased to a daily service.
A cruise line between Oman’s Khasab Port and Iran’s Bahonar Port in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, was officially launched, opening Iran’s southern coasts up to tourists from the Persian Gulf littoral countries.
As part of plans to develop the country’s health tourism, ICHHTO said it had issued licenses for 14 tour companies to operate in the sector, while authorizing 98 hospitals to launch an international patients department.
October
The International Tourism Investment Conference, touted as the largest confab of its kind in Iran, was held in Tehran to entice foreign investors into financing hotel projects. Representatives from 60 international firms based in Europe, Africa and Asia attended the event.
At the event, officials announced that all tourism activities can enjoy a 100% tax holiday for three to 13 years, depending on the project’s location.
Masoud Soltanifar, the head of ICHHTO, was appointed the new minister of sports and youth affairs, leaving pundits wondering who would replace him at the helm of the country’s tourism authority.
After months of legal tussle, the height of two 24-meter-high silos on the outskirts of the ruins of Persepolis and Naqsh-e-Rostam in Marvdasht, Fars Province, was reduced by 7 meters.
Legally, no structure in the vicinity of Persepolis should be taller than 8.5 meters, which means that the silos are still higher than permitted.
November
In an interview with Financial Tribune, Gholamheydar Ebrahim Bay Salami, the head of Tourism Holding Company and one of the organizers of International Tourism Investment Conference, said his company received offers from renowned international groups, such as Accord and Bouygues Batiment, to build 30 hotels in Iran.
President Hassan Rouhani appointed Zahra Ahmadipour to head ICHHTO, following the appointment of her predecessor, Masoud Soltanifar, as the new minister of sports and youth affairs in late October.
Through a court order, the Revitalization and Utilization Fund for Historical Places took back the management rights of the 17th-century Vakil Bazaar in Kerman Province after the private company that had leased the site failed to uphold its end of the contract.
Simon Press, senior director of World Travel Market London, a leading industry exhibition, said he expected Iran to impress again following its showing in the last expo.
According to the director of WTM London, one in three industry executives expect to do more business in Iran next year.
“A number of multinational companies have expressed interest in developing the country’s tourism infrastructure,” he told TTN Worldwide.
December
In its proposed budget bill for the next fiscal year that starts on March 21, 2017, the government earmarked a 12% increase in the tourism authority’s funding.
While marginally better than the current year’s budget, the proposed funding failed to satisfy observers, who point out that the proposed $200-million budget is insufficient to meet the rapidly-growing industry’s needs.
Ali Baqer Nemati Zargaran, director of the Promotion and Marketing Office at ICHHTO, said Iran is in talks with Russia, Azerbaijan, India and China to promote visa-free travel.
Following reports that the owner of Villa Namazee in Tehran’s affluent Niavaran neighborhood was set to demolish the iconic 1960s building to build a 20-floor hotel, activists staged an online campaign to save the building.
Designed by the famed Italian architect Gio Ponti, Villa Namazee forms part of an influential trio of properties by Ponti, along with Villa Planchart and Villa Arreaza, both in Caracas, Venezuela. To help save the building, Matthew Licitra, Ponti’s grandson, said he would travel to Tehran./ Financial Tribune
TPO deputy chief said volume of Iran’s non-oil exports rose from $4.2 billion in 2000 to $42.5 billion in 2016 indicating a one thousand per cent growth.
Deputy Trade Promotion Organization Chief for Commercial Aids Mohammadreza Modudi made the remarks saying “in non-oil export field, the country enjoys a positive balance of trade growth.”
“Although Iran possesses age-old and precious experience in trades, steps need to be taken in vies of formation of new markets.”
“Most important objectives pursued by the government include provision of grounds for development of businesses and enhancement of their capabilities in order to boost non-oil exports as well as elevation of trade balance,” he continued.
Volume of Iran’s non-oil exports rose from $4.2 billion in 2000 to $42.5 billion in 2016.
Modudi called for formation of global production and distribution chains in a bid to gain a share in the global market by joining these great chains of value creation.
The official deemed private sector as the main actor in foreign trade though it needs to acquire technical skills, increase knowledge and international law as well as gaining necessary marketing and negotiation skills by moving away from traditional views.
TPO deputy head emphasized the need to move towards modern markets and to take steps to develop foreign trade through marketing and formation of distribution network as well as familiarity with international law.
As regards trade, he deemed it better that trade-centered approaches were brought to focus recalling that Trade Promotion Organization had set its priority as internationalization of companies and necessary trade-related trainings.
He further urged Iran’s TPO to direct its efforts towards strengthening international and competitive companies.
Christian Iranians living in the city of Jolfa in central Iranian province of Isfahan, like other Christian cities across the globe, are preparing themselves for the beginning of the new Christian year.
Jolfa: The Armenian Quarter
The Armenian quarter of Isfahan dates from the time of Shah Abbas I, who transported a colony of Christians from the town of Jolfa (now on Iran’s northern border) en masse, and named the village ‘New Jolfa’. Abbas sought their skills as merchants, entrepreneurs and artists and he ensured that their religious freedom was respected – albeit at a distance from the city’s Islamic centre. At one time over 42,000 Armenian Christians lived here.
Today there are a number of Armenian churches and an old cemetery, serving a Christian community of approximately 5000. It’s worth heading out here (it’s not far, southwest of the centre) in the afternoon, seeing the sights and staying around to enjoy dinner in the relatively liberal village atmosphere.
Iran could become the leading tourism market in the Middle East and North Africa region, says an international market analyst.
Nikola Kosutic the respected international analyst and head of research for the Middle East region at Euromonitor believes that “the potential is enormous when you consider where they are now, and what they could achieve in the near future. Iran is likely to become the leading tourism market in the Middle East and North Africa Region, provided the infrastructure is able to develop and cope with changes.”
Euromonitor International’s full report on travel and tourism in Iran outlines the way ahead, and the threats to achieving the country’s goal of attracting a huge increase in tourists by 2025, amounting to 35 billion US dollars a year. Tourism currently accounts for less than eight billion dollars.
The report will be a main focus for discussion at the inaugural Iran Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (IHTIC) being organized by Bench Events on 7-8 February – a new high-level gathering of international investors, consultants and local leaders in the hospitality industry, who will come together to meet each other and discuss how to develop the country’s tourism sector.
Iran offers a diversity that is unique in the region, according to the report. Blending Persian and Arab cultures, the list of attractions is long: from the great city of Isfahan, to the mountains of Damavand, the religious tourism site of Mashhad, and the island of Kish.
While the US still has sanctions in place, hotel groups headquartered outside the USA have already started to move in. The French Accor group became the first in 2016. Others are following including the UAE’s Rotana and Spain‘s Melia. It’s expected that by 2018 Iran will have six different international brands.
In response, the country is trying to move fast to develop its infrastructure including increasing airport capacity at Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad and Shiraz. Iranian airlines has purchased more aircraft as international airlines start to focus on the market, including British Airways, which recently launched daily flights to Tehran.
But there are weaknesses, according to the Euromonitor report. Airport capacity is still limited and more investment is needed. The hotel market is massively under supplied often with poorly trained staff. And Internet infrastructure – especially online payment systems – is underdeveloped as a result of banking sanctions.
The report says the current Iranian government wants to encourage international tourism – apart from anything else, it needs the revenue. It is backing – politically and financially – a cultural heritage organisation to co-ordinate 160 projects, including hotels. And it is advertising abroad.
“With culture, ecotourism, and skiing, there are attractions across age groups, they can compete against many regional destinations, notably Egypt, Dubai, Oman and Turkey, the latter of which has recently faced an increase in terrorism. By contrast, Iran is considered to be a safe destination”, Nikola Kosutic added.
The largest source markets at the moment are Iraq and Azerbaijan, but the fastest growth has come from countries in Europe, and Americans are returning as well after decades of Iranian isolation. Nikola predicts that Russians will also arrive in big numbers. Visa procedures are being relaxed – Iran has started issuing 30-day visas for tourists from 58 countries on arrival.
For investors things are not quite as easy. A reliable local partner – to navigate bureaucracy, business rivalry, and even corruption – is crucial. Without one, the task is impossible.
