On March 18 Iranian airline Mahan Air began charter flights fromTehran toSochi, and the new route has proved popular withIranian tourists ofall ages keen totake advantage ofa cheap ruble and Russia's investment inthe resort inrecent years, Tatyana Strakhova, press spokesperson forthe Omega Sochi holiday complex, told Sputnik Persian.
"At the end ofMarch, duringthe celebrations ofNowruz (Iranian New Year) a group ofIranian tourists visited Sochi, where the XXII Winter Olympic Games took place," Strakhova said.
"An action-packed program ofexcursions was planned forthem. Iranian tourists not only visited the architecture ofthe Olympics, butalso the new track forthe 2016 Formula One Russian Grand Prix, where they enjoyed the atmosphere ofthe races, entered the stands and the team areas and observed atfirst hand the preparation work forthe upcoming race. Some ofthe Iranian tourists even did some laps ofthe track inracing cars."
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Preparations for 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix[/caption]The tourists were keen toobserve the resort's natural beauty, and sites ofhistorical importance such asSochi's sea port and Joseph Stalin's country retreat.
The Sochi Park theme park, withattractions based onRussian fairytales and cultural traditions, was also a big hit withthem, Strakhova said.
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Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Sochi[/caption]"They were very impression bythe Caucasus State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Sochi National Park and the Olympic ski resort."
"The tourists spent one day inthe Sky Park, Russia's only mountain theme park, where visitors can go bungee-jumping and walk overthe world's longest suspension footbridge, which is 439 meters inlength."
The park's 207 meter bungee jump is one ofthe highest inthe world, and it also boasts the world's highest swing, at170 meters abovethe ground.
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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 butalso a whole package ofhospitality which provides insight intothe links betweenRussia and the Muslim world and includes services likemenus inArabic or Farsi, and prayer rooms inhotels."
"Hotels welcoming Iranian guests toSochi make an effort tomake their stay ascomfortable aspossible, taking intoaccount their mentality, the traditional Iranian Taarof, religious particularities and catering requirements, particularly the choice offood and its preparation," Strakhova said.
By Sputnik News
