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Decline of Iranian Currency Triggers Jump in Tourists
(Washington Post) Jason Rezaian - Foreign purchasing power is at an all-time high in Iran due to a plunge in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial - resulting in a jump in tourism by international travelers. Between 2004 and 2010, tourism in Iran grew by 13%, compared with an average growth of 3% worldwide, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. The number of foreign tourists in Iran reached 3 million last year, contributing more than $2 billion to the economy. The vast majority of Iran's visitors come for religious reasons, making pilgrimages to Shiite holy sites.