Severe Decline in Foreign Travel During Eid; Consequences of Inflation on Tourism and Pilgrimage Trips

The head of the Association of Air Travel and Tourism Services in Iran has pointed out the impact of inflation on people's travel, emphasizing that travel by personal vehicles within the country has increased while destinations such as Turkey, Malaysia, and Iraq have seen a lack of travelers during the Eid al-Fitr holidays. According to Iranian news agencies, Hormatollah Rafi'i also reported a decrease in travel during the Nowruz holidays, stating that in Nowruz 1403, "we faced a drop in passengers." This industry official noted that the "poor living conditions" of the people have deterred them from traveling, leading to significant losses for travel and tourism companies. The newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' also reported last December on a survey indicating that "travel" has been removed from the expense basket of a significant number of households. The report showed that only 15% of respondents traveled more than twice in the year ending in December 2023. Additionally, the latest report from the Statistical Center of Iran indicates that the share of travel in the annual household expenditure basket has decreased from 3% in 1396 to 1.6% in 1401. The rising inflation rate in recent years, which has exceeded 40%, has led many Iranians to eliminate various life necessities, including travel, to balance their income and expenses. The removal of travel from household goods and services not only affects individuals' mental health but also impacts the tourism industry and dozens of related sectors. The exchange rate of 50,000 tomans per dollar has reduced foreign travel during Nowruz, alongside a rising trend in lottery registrations and asylum requests among Iranian citizens.