Reuters: Iran may offer drivers extra petrol above their monthly quota, a newspaper said, in a move to help boost domestic tourism which hoteliers say has suffered a blow since fuel rationing started in June.
Iran, the second-biggest oil producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), started rationing gasoline on June 27, as summer holidays began and when Iranians usually leave town, many to Caspian Sea resorts in the north.
The fuel scheme was introduced to curb soaring consumption which far outstripped the country's ability to produce petrol. Iran was importing about 40 per cent of its needs before rationing began, costing it some $ 5 billion a year.
But many private drivers complain the 100 litres they get each month is not enough to meet everyday needs, let alone holidays. Airline travel has surged since rationing started.
"Following the final decision of decision-makers, 150 to 200 litres of 'travel gasoline' will be added to the quotas of drivers in the country," Tehran Emrouz newspaper reported on Monday, without citing a source for its report.
"Increasing the fuel quota for drivers is aimed at easing some concerns about a decrease in the number of [tourist] trips this summer. Most likely it will be followed by an increase in trips next week" when there is a public holiday, it added.
Hoteliers in Caspian resorts, a popular getaway particularly for Iranians, say their businesses have been hit by the rationing scheme and fear worse to come.
"The number of our customers has dropped 30 to 40 per cent this summer," Mehrdad Farhat-Tabar, manager of the Caspian's Narenjestan hotel, said.
Officials say fuel consumption has dropped. But, in the capital, there has been no easing of traffic jams after roads initially became quieter when rationing first began.
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