ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a comprehensive introduction to tourism in Iran and the challenges it faced before, and faces post, the lifting of sanctions and given relations with the United States as well as countries in the surrounding region. Iran has a strong geopolitical presence in the Middle East with longstanding tensions and rivalry and mistrust between Sunni countries under the leadership of Saudi Arabia and Shia countries. The landscape of Iran is dominated by the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges and two vast deserts: Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut. The chapter outlines the growth and history of tourism in Iran, and identifies key tourism related issues and challenges in the country. The contemporary history of tourism development in Iran dates back to the 1930s where the first tourism facilities, including some guesthouses and hotels, were built and steps were carried out to promote and encourage tourism. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
