The first attempt for arranging travel agencies services in a clutter-free and organized manner in Iran was 3 years ago, when Safarmarket came to life. Since it was born, traveling has never been the same; Safarmarket was an evolution and game changer that opened the door to all possibilities and opportunities that tourism industry had to offer.

As the name implies, Safarmarket is an online market place which provide all of the travel addicts need, from booking a flight and guided tours to finding an inexpensive hotel, thanks to its mighty and efficient search engine, it can explores through hundreds of internet pages and extracts the best results according to your customized requirements and preferences.

First Travel Market In Iran

As mentioned before, Safarmarket is where it all started, it defined the meaning of online market bazar to Iranian people who had never been familiar with this concept. So far, it has connected hundreds of travel service providers with thousands of customers who had never been aware of these business companies’ existence before.

how Safarmarket works is very simple: it’s an integrated platform which travel service providers (more than 1900 travel agencies) are able to offer their products (tours, hotels and airline/train/bus tickets) so the customers can choose the right option after comparing different prices and considering the quality of services.

Not Just A Company, But A True Travel Companion

Customer’s satisfactions reflected on positive feedbacks are the most important objective for any trustworthy company, and Safarmarket‘s staff are fully aware of that. Through all the stages of your trip, you are never alone; you can always count on Safarmarket’s support on any difficulties you ever face during your travel. Safarmarket’s staffs are attentive and skilled at problem-solving and can help you tackle your troubles easily.

As the name implies, Safarmarket is an online market place which provide all of the travel addicts need, from booking a flight and guided tours to finding an inexpensive hotel, thanks to its mighty and efficient search engine, it can explores through hundreds of internet pages and extracts the best results according to your customized requirements and preferences.

Where Technology Meets Travel

Don’t let the simplicity of Safarmarket‘s page deceives you. It’s designed this way to be as user-friendly as possible, but under the hood, there are many codes and components are involved for this system to works impeccably and derives the best google results and brings them on the surface. thanks to the filters provided, finding the specific result by filling out the empty fields such as price of the ticket and flight class has now become possible and the chances of hitting the target and saving a lot of time by pressing a few clicks has increased enormously.     

Tips For Finding The Cheapest Flights

The first and most important tip for finding the cheapest flight is to know where to look. Simply typing “cheap flight” on google gets you nowhere and is the worst strategy for finding a cheap flight ticket because google will bombard you with hundreds of results which none of them might meet your needs. for finding the cheapest flight, you have to rely on a website which is specifically design for this purpose and allow you to compare prices of different airlines and travel agencies in an organizes way.

Safarmarket is the best Iranian choice for searching hundreds deals and finding the best and cheapest bargain. You can also install Safarmarket’s app to be notified of discounts given on especial campaigns such as Orange Friday. Another tactic for finding the cheapest flights is to be flexible with the date you’re planning to travel; for instance, instead of traveling during the holidays and high seasons, you can book your flight at the least popular time of the year.

The last tip for hunting the cheapest flight ticket is to choose an indirect route. Rather than reaching your destination with a direct flight, you can buy a flight ticket for connecting transport and save a fair deal of money.

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Iran’s tourism industry is considered as the most affordable prices in the world for foreign visitors.

A biannual report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) gave Iran a score of 66.6 in terms of price competitiveness and put it ahead of global tourism players such as Egypt, Malaysia, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Spain, the US, Franc and Italy.

Overall, the WEF report showed that Iran’s generally travel and tourism competitiveness ranking had improved by four points over the past two years.

A 2017 report by World Travel and Tourism Council also indicated promising improvements in the country’s tourism industry.

As reported by the official website of WTTC, the direct contribution of travel and tourism industry to Iran’s gross domestic production was 367 trillion rials ($9.6 billion) in 2016, constituting 2.9% of the total GDP. The figure is forecast to rise by 7.5% in 2017.

For instance, the development of tourism infrastructure in a target city will not only provide direct jobs in tourist services such as lodging and hospitality, but will also lead to a boom in businesses like handicrafts, food, clothes, transport and many other sectors.

Another important benefit of tourism is the small investment required for entrepreneurship.

In ecotourism, enormous profit can be made with minimum investment since the primary requirements, including an attraction and lodging, are already available.

More importantly, employment in tourism is among the most sustainable since there are always potential consumers for goods and services in the tourism sector.

Job Opportunity

Iran tourism industry generated 559,000 jobs directly in 2016 (2.2% of total employment) and this is forecast to grow by 4.9% in 2017. Previously, it was forecast that tourism would generate 496,000 jobs directly in 2015.

This includes employment by hotels, travel agencies, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). It also includes, for example, the activities of restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists.

In 2015, about 476,000 jobs were directly created by the travel sector.

By 2027, the industry is predicted to generate 670,000 jobs directly, an annual increase of 1.3% over the next 10 years.

Ali Asghar Mounesan, the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, has once again highlighted the role of tourism in job creation in a commentary published in the Persian media.

Pointing to President Hassan Rouhani’s emphasis on tackling the issue of unemployment, the official said tourism industry has great capacities and advantages in this regard, Financial Tribune wrote.

“A major advantage of tourism compared with other industries is that it can generate both direct and indirect jobs, meaning that for each direct job in the sector, several other related secondary jobs are created,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.

Mounesan noted that by investing in restoration and refurbishment alone, direct and indirect jobs can be created for tens of local people.

“Ecotourists do not expect luxury facilities of a five-star hotel,” he said.

The amazing shrine of Hilal Ibn Alie

Tourists walk on a platform at a station in Tehran after arriving in the Iranian capital on a luxury train from Budapest on October 27, 2014. (AFP PHOTO/Atta Kenare) 

Visitor Spending

An important part of tourism’s direct contribution to the economy is the money spent by foreign tourists (called visitor exports in the industry). This amounted to $4.2 billion in 2016, up from $1.1 billion in 2015.

The figure is expected to grow by 11.6% in 2017 and continue to grow by 3.4% every year until 2027, when it is predicted to reach $6.6 billion.

Furthermore, Iran’s tourism industry attracted $3.5 billion in capital investment last year, which is expected to rise by 6.3% in 2017 and by 3.4% per year over the next 10 years to $6.2 billion in 2027.

GDP Growth

The industry’s contribution to Iran’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.5% this year, which is faster than the Middle East (4.6%) and world (3.8%) average.

Iran is ranked first regionally with regard to the predicted growth of the sector’s direct contribution to employment (4.9%) this year, more than double the Mideast and global average (both at 2.1%).

Visitor export is also expected to grow by 11.6%, far above the regional (5.2%) and world (4.5%) average.

However, Iran is not expected to fare well in terms of attracting investment compared to other countries, as WTTC predicts a modest 6.3% rise in capital. While this is above the global average (4.1%), it is below the Middle East average (7.3%).

Iran’s declared goal is to attract 20 million tourists every year by 2025, generating $30 billion in revenue. However, if the council’s forecast is anything to go by, achieving that target in eight years is not going to be easy.

Drawing Foreign Tourists

Iran’s ultimate goal is to draw 20 million foreign tourists annually by 2025. However, with only eight years to go, the target appears to be very ambitious.

Iran has set itself a target of 6.5 million inbound tourists in the current Iranian year that ends on March 20, 2018, a senior official at Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization said.

The objective has been set by the Resistance Economy Headquarters, which also aims to increase domestic tourism numbers to 120 million by the yearend, IRNA reported.

“With proper planning and development of infrastructure, it is possible to meet our goals,” Morteza Rahmani Movahed, deputy for tourism at ICHHTO.

“However, it takes time to heal Iran’s international image,” he added, referring to years of smear campaigns against Iran led by most western media outlets.

At the time being another key point that adds to Iran’s advantage in this industry must be assessed- Iran is the world’s cheapest tourist destination. This fact has been reported by the World Economic Forum (WEF) who has assessed nearly 141 countries.

Statistics show that Iran is currently ranked 15th in terms of tourist attractions in the world. A series of hurdles such as sanctions and propaganda by the west, especially in the media, has prevented Iran’s tourism industry from flourishing.

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The inaugural ceremony of the fair in the German capital was attended by the Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Zahra Ahmadipour.

Iran has set up 24 pavilions and tourism offices in the expo to introduce the Islamic Republic’s tourism potentials and capacities.

Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai inaugurated the international event which will run until March 12.

Tour operators, online booking portals and hotels, and many other service providers from over 180 countries are presenting their products and services at the event.

Known as the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin focuses on the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017’ — a slogan introduced by the UNWTO earlier this year.

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Prompting the spike in interest in the Islamic Republic is recent geopolitical wrangling in the shape of a nuclear deal with world powers that has ended some longstanding sanctions.

But while the country is trying to modernize its tourism industry in the face of increasing visitor numbers – 5.2 million came in 2016 and more are expected in 2017 – its more traditional offerings still have the potential to charm.

None more so than the Abbasi Hotel, an opulent if careworn establishment located in the ancient city of Isfahan, CNN reported.

It’s a place like no other.

Isfahan has its fair share of historical wonders (some which are UNESCO World Heritage sites), but in many ways the Abbasi has become a tourist attraction in its own right, CNN reported.

Built around 300 years ago, under the Safavid dynasty reign of Shah Sultan Husayn, it was originally used as a pit stop for merchants traveling the ancient Silk Road.

The complex provided shelter not only for traders but also for the camels and horses they used to help transport their goods.

The years, decades and centuries that followed took their toll on the old caravanserai (during the early 1900s it was used as a military complex) and it started to fall into disrepair.

In the 1950s, French archeologist André Godard, working in Iran at the time, took it upon himself to fight for its restoration.

Soon after that, the Abbasi became what it is today: a 4-star hotel drenched in an ancient past.

The Abbasi may not have an abundance of modern amenities. There are no state-of-the-art gym or in-room cappuccino machines (although it does have great Wi-Fi), but that adds to its charm.

In a globalized and franchise-dominated world, the Abbasi is unique.

This hotel is all about atmosphere. Moreover, it’s uniquely Persian.

“I’d highly encourage anyone traveling to Iran to stay here as it’s an experience of a lifetime,” says General Manager Jamal Zandi.

He’s not really exaggerating.

Hallways are lined with authentic miniature paintings, the ceiling of the lobby is finely detailed and the dining areas adorned with beautiful mirror work, glittering chandeliers, and exquisite colorful wall motifs often associated with romantic notions of “the Orient.”

An array of emerald greens, jasmine blues and deep golds inevitably make visitors reach for their cameras as soon as they walk in.

The hotel has around 225 rooms, including 23 suites, and is divided between the hotel’s old wing and new wing.

Built in the 1970s, the rooms in the new wing are rather characterless – it seems that the recreation of the hotel’s original look and feel was not a priority at the time of construction and the rooms are bland in color and nondescript.

Guests who get to stay in the old wing, especially the Qajar and Safavid suites, are in for a treat. These rooms have been superbly restored and are decorated in an elegant traditional style without being overloaded.

At about $350 a night, they’re relatively pricey.

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President at the 17th WFTGA Convention:
Iran proved world that it’s the country of peace, friendship
Tourism results in security, culture, integrity, interaction among nations

Dialogue is the shortest and the less expensive way of settling disagreements among states, said President Rouhani, adding: “We are proud of peace, friendship, brotherhood and coexistence and one cannot raise walls between nations; today is the day of being neighbours”.

Speaking at the 17th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) in Tehran on Saturday, Rouhani added: “Iranian nation has created great wonders such as the Islamic Revolution”.

No power, except for culture and causes, were behind the Iranian nation’s revolution, said the president adding: “Political independence and democracy are the most important achievements of the revolution”.

He added: “Iran has never been a colony and has been the herald of peaceful coexistence for its neighbours”.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran also said: “In Iran, we have mosques and churches and religious minorities have representatives in the parliament”.

Iran has been the pioneer of science in the world’s history, Rouhani said, adding: “Great Persian language poets are a source of pride for the whole region”.

Stating that Iran proved to the world that is the country of peace and friendship, he also said: “One cannot raise walls between nations; today is the day of being neighbours”.

Information technology has bridged the distances, said the President. He went on to say: “Breaking trade pacts does not contribute to global economy and development”.

He also stressed that more stability and security depends on more dialogue, adding: “We have deeply felt the impacts of aggression, terrorism and the pain that the people of the region are in”.

“Our region is the cradle of tourism and terrorism targeted relics of history and civilisation,” continued the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He also said: “Iran has used all its might to help the nations of the region against terrorism and will continue to do so”.

Rouhani further continued: “With Iran’s help and the Iraqi and Syrian people’s bravery, terrorism in the region is waning”.

Stating that “tourism is a bridge between nations”, he continued: “Tour guides are the servants of the human civilisation and the links of transferring history to new generations”.

On the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he also said: “The achievement of JCPOA for the world was more stability and interaction”.

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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.

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Business Insider has named Iran among 50 places to travel to in 2017, commending the country’s security as a key factor behind attracting more tourists.

Iran is considered as one of the safest countries in the Middle East.

Business Insider has foreseen a tourist influx into Iran with more new direct flights operated from European capitals to Tehran.

The country’s tourism sector has already been thriving in the wake of a landmark nuclear deal with the six world powers back in July 2015.

Back in 2014, the country hosted more than 5 million tourists, earning some $7.5 billion in revenue.

Iran aspires to host 20 million tourists annually by 2025, with expectations of expanding the tourist sector to $30 billion.

Iranian authorities have already unveiled sweeping plans including easing visa restrictions as well as constructing new hotels as part of efforts to attract more foreign tourists.

Issuing visas on arrival at the airport for nationals of 190 countries as well as issuing electronic visas are among the initiatives the Iranian officials are mulling in this regard.

Thanks to its ancient architecture, eye-catching mosques, public baths and markets as well as incredible natural beauty, Iran has already been listed as one of the top travel destinations.

The country is home to 21 special sites registered on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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Mahmoud Vafaei further said that the investors intend to launch Ski piste and rest-cum-recreation compounds over an area of 1,100 hectares.

“An Iranian investor and Omani investors have started the projects or are in negotiations. A number of Italian investors have offered to construct hotel in Kerman but talks are underway with Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.”

Kerman is Iran’s largest province, he said. It boasts seven globally registered heritages and five dossiers awaiting global registration, he added.

It has significant sites such as Lut Desert, Meymand Village, Bam Citadel, Shazdeh Garden and an ancient aqueduct, he pointed out.

Also, 80 percent of the registered section of Lut Desert lies in Kerman Province, he added.

“Currently, we have registered 700 heritage sites in Kerman Province on the National Heritage List, while 7,000 others have been identified.”

An Iranian investor and Omani investors have started the projects or are in negotiations. A number of Italian investors have offered to construct hotel in Kerman.

Excavations, he noted, are to be conducted over an area of 400sq.kms. in Halilroud and Jiroft region. Konar Sandal ― a Bronze Age archeological site situated just south of Jiroft ― is very famous in light of excavations conducted earlier.

“We predict that the number of domestic tourists visiting Kerman reach 40,000.

“We intend to celebrate the inaugural of the 100th local guesthouse in the near future. This means that Kerman target tourism villages could accommodate foreign tourists and sell handicrafts. This will boost rural jobs and empower villagers.”

Vakil Caravanserai in Kerman can be turned over to the private sector, he said, adding there are several caravanserais which have been transformed into rest-cum-recreation centers.

There is a caravanserai in Anar Region which has been converted into an entertaining complex, he added.

Kerman is a secure tourism region, he said, adding foreign tourists can directly travel to Lut Desert.

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Most international sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program were lifted at the start of this year. That sparked widespread interest among international companies in entering a country of 80 million.

Representatives of rapidly expanding US companies such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Marriott International Inc. and Choice Hotels International declined to comment.

Meanwhile, other companies are wasting no time. Abu Dhabi-based-Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC, France’s Accor, Spain’s Meliá Hotels International and Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group are all moving quickly in anticipation of a tourism and business boom.

“We have been carefully watching the status of USA sanctions, the regulatory changes to those sanctions and we are evaluating the opportunities as a result of those changes,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Marriott International Middle East and Africa.

Iran’s economy is the second largest in the Middle East behind Saudi Arabia.

“Everybody is waiting for the international changes to come into effect – we are moving forward,” said Guy Hutchinson, the chief operating officer of Rotana. “We are going full steam ahead,” he said.

Rotana, which operates out of more than two dozen cities in emerging and often complicated markets such as Iraq and Sudan, has four properties under construction in Iran, the first one of which, a five-star hotel with 362 rooms, will open next year in the holy city of Mashhad.

Rotana can draw from its experience in other holy cities such as Mecca I Saudi Arabia and Karbala in Iraq, where targeting pilgrims as a major source of demand involves unique challenges, Hutchinson said. For example, more flexible check-in and checkout times might be needed to take into account the prayer times, he said.

“If you talk to US companies, they don’t necessarily have the same understanding in markets like this, virgin markets where there are specific challenges on how you operate,” said Hutchinson.

Frankfurt-based Steigenberger recently signed a letter of intent to open 10 hotels in Iran, while Meliá has a five-star property in the works on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Part of their optimism is fueled by Iran’s ambition to increase the number of visitors to 20 million by 2025 from around five million in 2015.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s hotel sector has been a local affair marked by the absence of international brands. Visitors to Tehran, whether for leisure or business, welcome top-end hotels.

“There’s not enough room for business travelers in Tehran,” said Maryam Kiaie, the international business development director for Rah Shahr, a major Iranian infrastructure firm. “We have business delegations postponing trips because of it.”

Kiaie estimates that Tehran needs 5,000 more high-grade hotel rooms. Hotels may be attractive for investors because they are easier to buy and upgrade than other property types.

“I think it’s a very safe sector to invest in,” Kiaie said. “It’s easier to get finance to build hotels, and there are many local investors who are interested in coming into a joint venture with foreign investors. It’s a good opportunity for hotel brands.”

A few of Tehran’s hotels market themselves as four- or five-star hotels but analysts say most of these wouldn’t receive the same classification by international standards. Room rates at the two Accor branches in Tehran range between $100 and $140 per night.

“Iran has some huge potential for growth because there is a lack in hotels both qualitatively and quantitatively,” said Christophe Landais, chief operating officer at Accor Hotels Iran. Paris-based Accor in the past year opened two properties, under the Ibis and Novotel brand, next to Tehran’s international airport. It is working on about 10 additional projects that will be located in Tehran and Mashhad.

Since opening its doors in Iran, Landais said the most positive feedback from clients he has received focused on Accor’s offering of free Wi-Fi and up to 40 international channels in the bedrooms – standard offerings in the West but more rare in existing Iranian hotels.

Hutchinson likened the present Iran situation to China before it became an economic powerhouse.

“It may take a little while until it fully opens and starts to move, but when it starts (it will go quickly),” he said./ Iran Daily

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“All economic activities related to… tourism will enjoy 100 percent tax holidays between five to 13 years depending on the region,” AFP quoted Iran’s Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaei as saying at an international tourism summit in Tehran.

Visitor numbers have already boomed in recent years, rising from 2.2 million annually in 2009 to 5.2 million in 2015, AFP added.

Iran has an ambitious target to increase annual visitor count by five folds to 20 million by 2025 in order to generate $30 billion a year. On the same front, the media reported last December that the country is constructing 125 new four- and five-star hotels.

This has already encouraged international hoteliers to devise plans to invest in Iran’s hotel industry. Hotel groups in the Persian Gulf Arab states are specifically believed to have already taken measures to boost their portfolios in Iran.

Hotel groups from Germany, Greece, South Korea and Singapore have also engaged in talks with officials in Tehran over hotel construction plans.

Europe’s largest hotel group Accor has also constructed two four-star hotels at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside the Iranian capital.

The UAE-based Rotana plans to open its five-star 600-room hotel in Tehran this year and another in the pilgrimage city of Mashhad.

Also, officials in Ankara announced in May that the country’s investors will be allowed to build at least 10 hotels in Iran. The hotels would be built in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Mashhad.

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