Tour bus driver Rasoul Mousavi has been seeing less and less of his wife this month . Mousavi says a sharp increase in tourists has kept him so busy that for four nights in a row he did something his wife does n't like very much -- he showed up late for dinner . `` My wife is n't very happy but during the past few years , I 've rarely seen it this busy , '' Mousavi said . `` Thank God it 's getting better . We 're getting more tourists . '' Mousavi 's heavy workload comes amid a push by Iran 's new president Hassan Rouhani to attract more foreign travelers to Iran , home to some of the world 's oldest civilizations and historical sites that date back several thousand years . Iranian officials have announced plans to ease visa requirements for most foreign visitors within the next several months . According to state media , once the new visa guidelines are in place , tourists from most countries will be able to pick up their visas on arrival , with the exception of travelers from at least ten countries -- including the U.S. and the UK . Iran used to be a top destination in the region , but the 1979 Iranian revolution delivered a huge blow to the tourism industry . The number of tourists dropped sharply , due in large part to Iran 's political and economic isolation and warnings by Western governments that Iran was a rogue and dangerous nation led by a radical regime . President Rouhani is clearly looking to leave a more positive impression on the international community with a campaign to solve Iran 's nuclear dispute and improve relations with the West . According to the Iranian Cultural Heritage , Tourism , and Handicrafts Organization , Iran attracted roughly four million tourists last year and generated about $ 8 billion in revenue . Tourism officials predict less restrictive visa guidelines and Rouhani 's policy of moderation will help those numbers increase significantly . `` The number of tourists has been increasing day by day and we 're feeling the increase , '' says Mohammad Eslami , a tour guide for the Tehran-based Azadi International Tourism Organization . On a typical day in Tehran it 's not hard to find tour buses filled with tourists weaving through the capital 's historic neighborhoods . `` People are amazingly warm and generous here . It 's been a wonderful , '' says Ryan Hendricks , who is visiting Iran with his wife and daughter from the Netherlands . `` What we see of Iran on TV news is not true , '' says Finnish tourist Janna Kauppinn . `` This is a country full of history with wonderful people and amazing food . '' The apparent comeback in Iran 's tourism industry could mean more late nights for Mousavi . But the tour bus driver says that as long as tourists keep coming and helping the economy and leaving with fond memories , that 's perfectly fine with him and his wife . `` I really shed tears of joy because they come here and see Iran , and they leave with pride , '' he says .
Long - isolated country to ease visa restrictions amid tourism boom . Iran 's new president Rouhani has taken a moderate tone with West since taking office . Foreign workers in Iran and numbers of visitors ` ` increasing day by day ''