TEHRAN – The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI) announced that it has started the pilot phase of a plan to purchase foreign currency from foreign tourists and issue “tourist cards” at the country’s international airports.
The CBI statement said the purchases will be made at rates corresponding to transactions on the CBI’s currency and gold exchange centres.
The initiative aims to induce foreign exchange inflows through official platforms, facilitate real payments by tourists, and increase the transparency of foreign exchange transactions.
Under the pilot program, one designated commercial bank will act as a licensed operator, purchasing foreign currency from tourists and issuing tourist cards. The card allows holders to use the exchanged funds for payments in Iran in real money.
The central bank said the plan is the first step towards expanding Iran’s tourism payment system and strengthening cooperation between the currency market and the tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri announced the plan last year, saying the lack of proper foreign currency exchange mechanisms and lack of international credit card services were major barriers to the tourism industry. He called on the central bank to develop new payment solutions for foreign visitors.
Iran hopes the initiative will make travel easier for international visitors and increase revenue from cultural and historical attractions. The country is home to 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including centuries-old mosques, gardens, bazaars, and ancient ruins.
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