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<\/a><\/p>\nJob Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In 2015, about 476,000 jobs were directly created by the travel sector.<\/p>\n By 2027, the industry is predicted to generate 670,000 jobs directly, an annual increase of 1.3% over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Mounesan noted that by investing in restoration and refurbishment alone, direct and indirect jobs can be created for tens of local people.<\/p>\n “Ecotourists do not expect luxury facilities of a five-star hotel,” he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The amazing shrine of Hilal Ibn Alie<\/p><\/div>\n 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) <\/p>\n Visitor Spending<\/strong><\/p>\n An important part of tourism\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/a>