VOA常速英语2015--伊朗旅游业迎来高速发展

伊朗旅游业迎来高速发展

Tour companies describe Iran as one of the unexplored jewels of the Middle East, with stunning¹ architecture, breathtaking landscapes and warm people.

精彩绝伦的古建筑，风光宜人的自然景色，热情好客的伊朗人，两家公司认为伊朗是一块未被挖掘的中东瑰宝。

But the country’s isolation² since the 1979 Islamic Revolution has seen visitor numbers from the West fall. Latest figures show just 90,000 arrivals from North America and the European Union in 2013.

1979年，伊朗发生了伊斯兰革命，至此之后一直保持隔绝状态，前往伊朗旅游的西方游客逐渐减少。最新数据表明在2013年，前往伊朗旅游的北美和欧盟游客仅为9万人。

“The difficulties we’ve had in Iran have definitely hurt the tourist industry in the sense that people are afraid to go. But those people that ventured and overcame these considerations and visited Iran were never sorry,”

伊朗目前所面临的困难确实损害了伊朗旅游业的发展，人们不敢来这里旅游。但是那些排除万难来到伊朗的游客绝对不虚此行。

Iran’s embassy reopened in London this week. The July deal struck by Tehran and six world powers over the country’s nuclear program is already helping³ ease travel restrictions⁴. This British travel agency has seen a spike⁵ in demand.

本周，伊朗驻伦敦使馆重新开放。今年7月，德黑兰和六国就伊朗核问题所达成的协议更是缓解了对旅游的限制。这家英国旅行社的赴伊游客与日俱增。

"Two things have happened since the nuclear deal. First of all, the Foreign Office have changed their advice against travel to Iran, and that's made it much simpler for people to get insurance and that sort of thing, so the numbers have gone up again," We've had to put on three extra departures this year alone to cope with demand for the autumn season to Iran."

核协议达成之后发生了两件事。第一件，外交部改变了劝阻游客赴伊旅游的建议，这让游客申请保险等机会大大增加，赴伊游客数量又一次增加。为了解决赴伊旅游的秋季高峰期，我们仅在今年额外增加了3个旅行团。

British traveler Buggsie Heath-Brown is about to join one of this tours.

英国游客Buggsie Heath-Brown即将要参加此次旅行团。

"We decided⁶ to get on one of the first trips that we could to get out there; see the sights, meet the people before the big rush of the rest of the world."

我们决定参加首支旅行团；在全球游客到来之前欣赏那里的风景。

Iran says it wants to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2025, generating up to $30 billion in revenues.

伊朗希望在2025年之前每年能够吸引2000万游客赴伊旅游。年收入将达到300亿美金。

“Now that this outside face of Iran is beginning to change, I think that tourism offers a great opportunity for the Iranian economy,”

伊朗将以新的面貌示人，我想旅游业为伊朗经济提供了巨大机遇。

 

Tour operators say obtaining a visa is still a major hurdle⁷ for many visitors, while international sanctions on Iran’s banking⁸ system mean that most transactions have to be in cash.

旅行社称对于许多游客来说，申请护照仍然非常困难，国际对伊朗银行系统的制裁意味着绝大多数交易都必须使用现金。

1 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

2 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

8 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。