Iran Tourism Gains Ground as Medical Travel and Pilgrimage Keep Visitor Flows Strong

Written By: Abhirup Gan

Abhirup Gan

I'm Abhirup Gan, a Mass Communication graduate and digital marketing professional. Driven by a passion for storytelling, I create insightful, research-led content that explores tourism trends, destination stories, and hospitality developments with depth and clarity. Through my writing, I hope to inspire readers to discover not only where to travel, but the stories, cultures, and experiences that make every journey meaningful.

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August 17, 2026 12:16 GMT+5:30

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Medical and pilgrim tourism are two segments of Iran’s tourism industry that remain resilient. Despite the situation on the global markets, many foreigners keep arriving in Iran for surgeries, eye treatment, infertility issues, cosmetic procedures, and other types of treatments. At the same time, there is a constant inflow of pilgrim tourists to the Imam Reza Shrine and Fatima Masumeh Shrine located in Mashhad and Qom, respectively. Such a tourism model allows Iran to have travel activity outside the traditional tourist seasons, especially those coming from Iran’s neighbouring countries and Muslim states. According to the latest information, one million health tourists visited Iran in the past year, whereas more than 120,000 pilgrims visited Imam Reza Shrine from March 2024 to March 2025.

Key Stats: Iran Medical and Religious Tourism

• Around 1 million: Health tourists reported entering Iran during the previous year.
• 140 countries: Foreign patients were reported by Iranian medical centres in the previous year.
• 120,000+: Foreign pilgrims visiting Imam Reza Shrine between March 2024 and March 2025.
• 98 countries: Countries represented among those foreign pilgrims.
• 3.5-4 million: Annual foreign religious tourists estimated by Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
• Mashhad: Leading Iranian city for international patients in a 2026 medical-tourism mapping study.

Medical Tourism Gives Iran a High-Value Visitor Stream

Medical tourism has become an important part of Iran’s international visitor economy because patients often stay longer than conventional short-break tourists and may travel with companions.

Iranian healthcare providers report international demand for cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, orthopaedics, fertility treatment, transplants, ophthalmology, ENT procedures, cosmetic surgery and general surgery. Patients have been arriving from Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Persian Gulf countries and other markets.

Cost competitiveness is one factor behind this demand. Research into Iran’s medical tourism sector identifies competitive pricing, specialist expertise and proximity to neighbouring markets as important drivers, particularly for patients from the Gulf and surrounding countries.

That creates a different tourism economy from leisure travel. A patient may require accommodation before and after treatment, while accompanying family members can generate spending on restaurants, transport, shopping and sightseeing.

Mashhad Emerges as a Medical Tourism Hub

Mashhad is particularly significant because healthcare and pilgrimage already overlap in the same destination.

A 2026 study mapping Iran’s medical-tourism hubs ranked Razavi Khorasan province first among the provinces assessed and identified Mashhad as the country’s leading city for international patients. Its combination of medical facilities and the presence of the Imam Reza Shrine gives the city an unusual dual tourism proposition.

For international visitors, that can mean combining healthcare appointments with religious travel or family activities.

The city also has a substantial hospitality network catering to visitors travelling for pilgrimage and longer stays. Properties such as the Golden Palace Hotel are located near Imam Reza Shrine and provide extensive accommodation, dining and guest facilities.

Pilgrimage Keeps Mashhad Busy

The religious tourism side of the equation is equally significant.

Imam Reza Shrine attracts pilgrims from across Asia, the Middle East and beyond. Shrine officials reported that more than 120,000 foreign pilgrims from 98 countries visited between March 2024 and March 2025. The largest groups included visitors from Iraq, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, followed by Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Türkiye, Syria and Central Asian countries.

The international spread is important for Mashhad’s hospitality sector because pilgrimage demand is not restricted to a single nationality or travel corridor.

Hotels, restaurants, local transport providers, retail businesses and tour operators all form part of the visitor ecosystem surrounding the shrine.

Qom Adds Another Religious Gateway

Qom, approximately 140 kilometres south of Tehran, is Iran’s second major religious city after Mashhad and one of the country’s principal pilgrimage destinations.

The city is centred around the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh, drawing religious visitors while also supporting cultural and medical tourism.

The shrine’s international reach is broader than its traditional pilgrimage market. More than 1,100 non-Muslim visitors from 56 countries visited the shrine during the first half of 2025, according to its International Affairs Office. Visitors included nationals from the United States, China, Türkiye, Spain, the UK, Poland, Russia, Germany and Thailand.

Regional Markets Keep the Two Sectors Connected

Iran’s location gives medical and religious tourism a strong regional foundation.

Iraq is particularly important for both medical travel and pilgrimage, while Gulf markets, Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries provide additional visitor flows. Iranian officials have also identified Iraq as a priority tourism market, specifically citing its importance for religious and medical travel.

This regional concentration can support year-round tourism because medical procedures and pilgrimages do not depend entirely on conventional holiday seasons.

Travel Guide: Mashhad and Qom

Mashhad International Airport is the principal air gateway for visitors travelling directly to Mashhad. Tehran provides the main international gateway for broader Iran itineraries, while domestic flights and rail services connect the capital with major cities.

Visitors to Mashhad can combine the Imam Reza Shrine with museums, bazaars and local dining. Qom can be incorporated into a Tehran itinerary because of its relatively short road distance from the capital.

The Iranian rial (IRR) is the official currency. Travellers should check current visa, transport, payment and security requirements before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is medical tourism important to Iran?
It attracts international patients for specialist procedures while generating associated accommodation, transport, dining and companion spending.

2. Which Iranian city is strongest for medical and religious tourism?
Mashhad has a particularly strong combination of international healthcare facilities and pilgrimage demand centred on Imam Reza Shrine.

3. Which countries supply many foreign pilgrims to Mashhad?
Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India and several Central Asian countries are among the significant source markets reported by shrine officials.

Timeline and Events

• 2024-2025: More than 120,000 foreign pilgrims from 98 countries visited Imam Reza Shrine.
• First half of 2025: More than 1,100 non-Muslim visitors from 56 countries visited the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom.
• 2025: Iranian officials reported around one million health tourists entering the country during the previous year.
• 7 June 2026: Research identifying Iran’s medical-tourism hubs ranked Razavi Khorasan and Mashhad prominently.

Conclusion

Tourism in health and religion is establishing a stable stream of foreign visitors, especially those coming from nearby states, the Gulf region, and Central Asia. Mashhad is positioned at the confluence of these two spheres, whereas Qom continues to be a prominent entry point for foreign pilgrims. Both of these tourism types ensure the country has an alternative tourism market, which operates independently of traditional recreational activities.