Where Has the SIM Card for Foreign Tourists Finally Reached?

The allocation of a special SIM card for foreign tourists in the country was a topic that was raised at the end of last year, and according to the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, necessary consultations have been held on this matter.

According to IDEA, the allocation of SIM cards to tourists has also been discussed in recent years. It was mentioned that these SIM cards, available in English and Arabic, provide users with information about Iran’s tourist attractions, offer easier internet access, and include multimedia features, GPS, and a handbook.

Now, after several years, the discussion of providing a special SIM card to tourists for better access to some foreign platforms has been raised again. Although it was initially announced by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as a proposal, no decision has been made yet.

The ministry responded to this request at the time and stated: The installation and use of domestic messengers and social networks among Iranian users are still on the rise. However, for foreign tourists who temporarily visit Iran and whose communication channels with their compatriots are limited due to our domestic regulations, there have been requests for temporary tourist SIM cards. These SIM cards provide access to specific platforms and expire after the tourist leaves. The idea of providing foreign tourist SIM cards is still at the proposal stage, and no decision has been made regarding it.

In this regard, Ezzatollah Zarghami, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, stated that he proposed offering unfiltered SIM cards to tourists and believes that foreign tourists should receive at least basic services. Some analysts wonder why foreign tourists do not come to Iran, and they have their reasons. One of their most important needs is internet access and international platforms.

He emphasized: Therefore, I asked the Minister of Communications to provide a way for foreign tourists to use international platforms through international SIM cards. Inshallah (God willing), our domestic platforms will also become international. The Deputy for Tourism also mentioned this and said that professionals in the tourism sector, such as travel agencies and tour guides, due to the nature of their job, should be able to use foreign social media and communicate with their audience who are abroad.

He also pointed out that all the efforts made in the field of Iranian social networks are commendable, but the penetration rate of these networks is not sufficient for foreign tourists who are temporarily in the country to use them. For this reason, one of the proposals reflected in private sector meetings was to provide suitable internet for travel agencies to perform their duties with their foreign partners, similar to examples created for some professions.

In conclusion, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts stated that consultations are ongoing, and he submitted a report on this matter to the government on the sixth of Ordibehesht (Iranian calendar month). Hopefully, the negotiations being conducted in various sectors, especially in the diplomatic apparatus, will lead to the resolution of this issue. We still believe that an appropriate SIM card should be provided to meet the needs of tourists, and this argument is not only for them (foreign tourists) but also for the main entities in the country that provide travel services; they should have access to this capability.

Based on this, after the proposal made by the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the matter has been examined by relevant committees responsible for addressing this issue and has been approved to a large extent. It is hoped that in the coming days when the results are announced, this possibility can be provided for foreign tourists.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts says they can recommend domestic messaging apps to Iranians who travel abroad or to foreign tourists. However, until these programs become widespread and familiar, they need time. These are the minimum initial services that should be provided to foreign tourists, and if not, we cannot expect a thriving tourism industry.

Currently, there is no official and recent news regarding the method and details of providing SIM cards to foreign tourists by the Ministry of Communications and other official institutions. However, based on general information, these SIM cards may be provided to tourists in places where they are present, such as airports.