The Iranian government has decided to unilaterally cancel visas for 33 countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. The news was announced by Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zargham.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Zarghami said the decision was aimed at boosting tourist arrivals and attracting more visitors from countries around the world. He said efforts to boost tourism could neutralise Iranophobic campaigns.
In addition to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, those from Serbia and Croatia have also had their visas cancelled.
Iran previously had visa waiver programmes for visitors from Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon and Syria.
According to the latest statistics, the number of foreign arrivals in Iran reached 4.4 million in the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started 21 March), an increase of 48.5% compared to the same period last year.
