According to Anushirvan Mohseni-Bandepei, Deputy Minister of Tourism, religious tourism accounted for 56 percent of two million foreign tourists who visited Iran during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year.
Mohseni-Bandepei told ISNA agency on Tuesday that two million visitors were attracted to the country in the first five months of 1405 (which began on March 21, 2026), 56% of whom traveled for religious tourism.
He emphasized that religious and pilgrimage tourism is a valuable resource for Iran, and that requirements for developing this sector were laid out in the country's Seventh National Development Plan. According to the official, given the current situation in the country, this potential could contribute to a wider presence of foreign guests.
The deputy minister noted that the figures presented indicate high demand for religious trips from neighboring countries, and stressed the need to improve tourist infrastructure, expand accommodation, and simplify the movement of pilgrims.
It was also mentioned that the national pilgrimage working group held its first meeting in Mashhad in April 2025, and the second meeting is taking place in Qom to identify and eliminate obstacles to the development of religious and pilgrimage tourism in Iran.
Mohseni-Bandepei named the limited number of direct flights as one of the main barriers to expanding international tourism, as it complicates travel for visitors from some countries. He gave the example: a Shia Muslim from Indonesia or Pakistan wishing to visit the shrine of Hazrat Masumeh (SA) is forced to enter the country through a third country, which is an obstacle.
Iran has a number of major pilgrimage centers that attract both local and international visitors. Mashhad, located in northeastern Iran, is the country's main pilgrimage center and home to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam. This shrine complex is also considered one of Iran's most significant religious and architectural monuments.
Qom, located south of Tehran, is another major center for Shia pilgrimage and religious scholarship. The city is home to the shrine of Hazrat Masumeh (SA) and attracts pilgrims and religious visitors from Iran and other countries, especially from communities in the Middle East, as well as South and Southeast Asia.
Other religious destinations include Shiraz, where the Shah Cheragh shrine is located, as well as a number of historical mosques, shrines, and holy sites throughout the country. Furthermore, Iran has important religious heritage sites associated with various faiths, including Armenian Christian monasteries and Jewish historical and religious sites.
