One of Russia's most popular tourist resorts has proved a hit with visitors from Iran, who particularly enjoyed racing on the Formula One track there, Sputnik Persian reported.

On March 18 Iranian airline Mahan Air began charter flights from�Tehran to�Sochi, and the new route has proved popular with�Iranian tourists of�all ages keen to�take advantage of�a cheap ruble and Russia's investment in�the resort in�recent years, Tatyana Strakhova, press spokesperson for�the Omega Sochi holiday complex, told Sputnik Persian.

"At the end of�March, during�the celebrations of�Nowruz (Iranian New Year) a group of�Iranian tourists visited Sochi, where the XXII Winter Olympic Games took place," Strakhova said.

"An action-packed program of�excursions was planned for�them. Iranian tourists not only visited the architecture of�the Olympics, but�also the new track for�the 2016 Formula One Russian Grand Prix, where they enjoyed the atmosphere of�the races, entered the stands and the team areas and observed at�first hand the preparation work for�the upcoming race. Some of�the Iranian tourists even did some laps of�the track in�racing cars."

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="806"] Preparations for 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix[/caption]

The tourists were keen to�observe the resort's natural beauty, and sites of�historical importance such as�Sochi's sea port and Joseph Stalin's country retreat.

The Sochi Park theme park, with�attractions based on�Russian fairytales and cultural traditions, was also a big hit with�them, Strakhova said.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="806"] Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Sochi[/caption]

"They were very impression by�the Caucasus State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Sochi National Park and the Olympic ski resort."

"The tourists spent one day in�the Sky Park, Russia's only mountain theme park, where visitors can go bungee-jumping and walk over�the world's longest suspension footbridge, which is 439 meters in�length."

The park's 207 meter bungee jump is one of�the highest in�the world, and it also boasts the world's highest swing, at�170 meters above�the ground.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="866"] The opening of SochiSwing, the world's highest swing[/caption]

"In 2015 Iranian tourists showed the largest increase in visits to Russia, and entered the list of the top 20 countries that send the most tourists to Russia. Today a lot of Russian hotels and tourist companies offer Halal Friendly facilities to tourists from Muslim countries," Strakhova explained.

"This concept covers not only halal food but�also a whole package of�hospitality which provides insight into�the links between�Russia and the Muslim world and includes services like�menus in�Arabic or Farsi, and prayer rooms in�hotels."

"Hotels welcoming Iranian guests to�Sochi make an effort to�make their stay as�comfortable as�possible, taking into�account their mentality, the traditional Iranian Taarof, religious particularities and catering requirements, particularly the choice of�food and its preparation," Strakhova said.

By Sputnik News