Tourists in Iran

The successful conclusion of nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers in Vienna in mid-July didn't just awaken hopes of loosening or even ending sanctions against Iran. Worldwide, systems providers, engineering firms and even the automobile industry are waiting to profit from the expected boom in demand from the nation's 80 million citizens. But one sector is already celebrating a surprise hike in demand: The tourism industry. "Study trips to Iran have already quadrupled from 2013 to 2014," Manfred Schreiber, Area Manager of travel company Studiosus told DW. For this year, he's expecting growth of 25 percent. Iran is also a trendy destination at competitor Gebeco, which has seen enormous growth in bookings since 2013.

Change in government

Iran's increasing media presence is part of the reason for the growing interest in the country, said Rulf Treidel, who oversees Iran bookings for Gebeco. "Iran is being perceived positively," he told DW. "People can see that change is happening under the new government. And more positive effects can be expected now following the agreement on Iran's nuclear program."

Schreiber agrees that the political situation is enormously important when it comes to travel in Iran. He says there was a certain basic level of interest in touring the country even during politically difficult times. "But with the election of current President Hassan Rouhani, the dams have been broken," the tourism expert said.

"More modern than expected"

One person who got caught up in the interest surrounding Iran is Gerlinde Lichtenberg from Bremen. She visited Iran for a week in April, and regrets that she didn't spend more time there. "I was just curious about the country. I didn't have negative associations because I had heard many times that the people there are quite open and friendly, especially toward Germans, and they are," the 65-year-old said. Still, she was surprised by "how young or middle-aged people often sought physical contact, shaking hands or giving a hug to say goodbye."

Manfred Schreiber is used to hearing such things. "For years, you could depend on Iran for negative headlines. So when people travel there now, they remark on how open the people are towards foreigners. The cities are really very modern, more modern than you'd expect."

Growth limits reached

If economic sanctions on Iran are lifted, then tourism will profit even more, said Gebeco's Treidel. There's been a slump in investment in infrastructure, but this is something that could improve in the near future. "Even if it's just little things like fixtures in hotel bathrooms. Airlines, streets buses, all the infrastructure in Iran has suffered under decades of sanctions, including the number of hotels, which is sure to increase in future," Treidel said.

However, hotel construction will take some time. The situation will be somewhat more relaxed in two or three years, Schreiber predicted. The country is just not prepared for a huge influx of tourists. "At the moment, the limits of growth have been reached."

This was confirmed by the head of the Iranian Tourism Industry, Ibrahim Pourfaraj, who announced this week that all the four- and five-star hotels in Iran's top five cities are completely booked for the coming year.