Tehran: Iran is set to launch a "tourist card" for foreign visitors, aimed at simplifying the currency exchange process from various international currencies to rials, announced the Iranian minister of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Salehi Amiri highlighted the challenges faced by the Iranian tourism industry due to the lack of a robust currency exchange system and the absence of international credit cards. He emphasized the need for the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) to address these issues to boost the sector. The minister pointed out that Iran's tourism potential and capacity require significant transformation, with the "Nowruz region" identified as a primary target market. This cultural area includes countries such as Azerbaijan, from which more than 1.8 million tourists previously visited Iran. However, following an incident at the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran on January 27, 2023, the number of visitors from Azerbaijan plummeted t o 0.1 million. During a recent visit to Baku, Salehi Amiri engaged in discussions with senior Azerbaijani officials to reopen tourist routes and revive exchanges. Additionally, he identified the Persian Gulf littoral states, particularly Iraq, as another key market, noting the disproportionality where over 3 million Iraqi tourists visit Iran annually compared to the 7.5 million Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraq. The minister also underscored the significance of the Saudi Arabian tourism market, expressing optimism about resolving bilateral issues with the help of President Masoud Pezeshkian. He mentioned the president's determination to enhance relations with Saudi Arabia and reported significant progress in this area. Salehi Amiri hopes that upcoming meetings between President Pezeshkian and the leaders of Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia will resolve outstanding issues and usher in a new chapter of diplomatic relations.