Research Report: 'Unprecedented' Decline in Domestic Tourism Among Iranians

The Open Data Iran platform reported a 'unprecedented' decline in domestic tourism in Iran based on the latest report from the Statistical Center of Iran. According to the published statistics, the total number of domestic trips made in the year 1400 was about 24 million, while this figure for spring 1398 was over 103 million. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the main factor for the severe decline in Iranian travel during the year 1400, the intensification of economic crises also played a direct role in this significant decrease. Another noteworthy point regarding the travel patterns of Iranians during the 1390s was the continuous increase in the ratio of one-day trips without overnight stays compared to trips longer than one day with overnight stays, which itself is a result of the intensification of economic crises and the decline in the quality of domestic travel for Iranians. According to figures published by the Statistical Center of Iran, the ratio of households with at least one member who traveled to households with no members traveling during the year 1400 was about 3 to 7, while this ratio in spring 1398 was about six and a half to three and a half. The number of foreign trips made by Iranians also saw a severe drop during the year 1400, decreasing from nearly 470,000 in 1398 to 48,000. In contrast, in 1391, Iranians made nearly one million foreign trips. Figures related to travel motivations during the 1390s indicate a decrease in 'tourism and recreation' as one of the main motivations and an increase in 'medical' and 'visiting friends and relatives.' The publication of statistics related to the decline in Iranian tourism comes at a time when the Statistical Center of Iran announced on Sunday, 17 Ordibehesht, that the annual inflation rate of goods and services consumed by households based on the base year 1400 reached 45.8% in Esfand 1401.