By Afshin Majlesi

Eco-lodges offer tourists a window into traditional rural life

TEHRAN - In the mountainous villages, desert settlements and forested regions of Iran, a growing network of eco-lodges has become more than a form of rural accommodation.

Shaneh Tarash revives traditional wooden comb craft to boost rural tourism

TEHRAN - A five-day workshop aimed at reviving the traditional craft of wooden comb making has been held in the village of Shaneh Tarash in northern Iran, local tourism officials said, as authorities seek to preserve indigenous handicrafts and strengthen community-based tourism.

Ilam handicrafts exhibit in Iraq highlights cross-border cultural ties

TEHRAN - An exhibition showcasing handicrafts from Iran’s western province of Ilam was held recently in the Iraqi city of Kut, drawing strong public interest and underscoring growing cultural and economic ties between the neighboring regions, a provincial official said.

Community participation drives sustainable tourism in Iran’s Pamenar village

TEHRAN - Nestled in the mountainous Shahiyun district of Dezful in southwestern Iran’s Khuzestan province, the village of Pamenar has emerged as a notable example of community-based sustainable tourism, where residents have combined traditional knowledge, environmental protection, and cultural heritage to create new economic opportunities while preserving their rural identity.

Ancient cemetery from Iron Age, Parthian era discovered in northern Iran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists working at the historic Chaser Elit site in northern Iran have uncovered a cemetery dating back to the Iron Age and Parthian period, along with a range of artifacts that researchers say could provide new insight into the lifestyles, rituals and social structures of ancient communities in the Mazandaran region.

Echoes of the past: A guard dog sculpture

Being kept at the National Museum of Iran, the pictured sculpture, is a remarkable artwork which dates from the Achaemenid era (c. 550-330BC).

Iranian Ashiq music tradition struggles for survival amid calls for greater support

ZANJAN - The centuries-old tradition of Ashiq music in northwestern Iran remains a vital expression of regional identity and oral history, but a number of performers and enthusiasts say stronger institutional support is needed to preserve the art form for future generations.

151 Iranian artifacts to return from China after ‘Land of Kindness’ exhibit

TEHRAN – Following an extended loan exhibition in China aimed at strengthening cultural ties, Iran is arranging the return of 151 artifacts to the country, a senior cultural heritage official announced on Saturday.

Isfahan says restoration of war-damaged historic buildings 80% complete

TEHRAN - Restoration work on Isfahan’s historic buildings damaged during the recent war with the US and Israeli regime has reached 80% completion, with most structural repairs expected to be finalized within two weeks, a municipal official said on Saturday.

Isfahan positioned as regional medical tourism hub as Iran plans integrated health system

ISFAHAN - Iran is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional hub for medical tourism by leveraging its specialist physicians, advanced treatment centers and competitive costs, tourism minister said during a visit to Isfahan’s Healthcare City.

Chinese audience embraces Iran’s Golestan Palace in TV program

TEHRAN - A video showcasing Iran’s UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace has drawn engagement from Chinese audiences after being broadcast by China’s state-owned broadcaster China Global Television Network as part of a program marking International Museum Day.

UK academics warn of war damage to Iran’s cultural heritage

TEHRAN – A group of prominent British academics, museum curators, and fellows of the British Academy has expressed deep concern over reported damage to Iran’s UNESCO-registered world heritage sites amid war with the US and Israeli regime.

European tourists shift travel plans closer to home amid West Asia conflict

TEHRAN - European tourists are increasingly choosing destinations closer to home as conflict in West Asia raises security concerns and drives up the cost of long-haul travel, affecting tourism flows across parts of Asia and the Middle East while benefiting southern European countries, industry officials and analysts said.

National, regional railway museums planned to preserve industrial heritage

TEHRAN - Iran’s railway authority plans to establish five national and regional railway museums and expand rail tourism projects as part of efforts to preserve the country’s industrial heritage, officials said on Tuesday.

Zagros Paleolithic Museum damaged by blast wave from recent US strikes

TEHRAN – The Zagros Paleolithic Museum in Kermanshah, the first specialized museum of its kind in the region, has sustained damage from a blast wave generated by recent US airstrikes on the city’s historical center. The museum is housed within the historic Biglar Beigi Tekyeh (also known as Biglarbaigi), a Qajar-era Hosseinieh that is a recognized national heritage site.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran government pledges support for rural eco-lodges, village revival

TEHRAN - Iran’s government will continue efforts to remove barriers to rural development and support operators of eco-lodges as part of a broader strategy to revive villages and strengthen local economies and cultural identity, senior officials said on Tuesday at a national conference marking eco-lodge day.

Riab cited as model for community-based tourism

TEHRAN - The village of Riab in eastern Iran has emerged as a model for community-based tourism development and has been nominated as one of Iran’s candidates for the Best Tourism Villages program organized by the UN Tourism.

A look at Iran’s treasure trove in Russia

The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, houses one of the most important and richest collections of pre-Islamic Iranian art and artifacts in the world. This unique collection ranges from Elamite pottery to Achaemenid reliefs and Parthian coins, offering visitors a vivid picture of the history and art of ancient Iran.

Exhibition ‘Hormuz: The Maritime Highway’ to be held online

TEHRAN – A virtual exhibition titled "Hormuz: The Maritime Highway – A Narrative of Thousands of Years of Human Presence on the Shores of the Persian Sea" will open online on May 23, at 11:00 a. m., according to the National Museum of Iran.

Tehran launches metro-based tourism plan after wartime disruption

TEHRAN - Tehran municipality has launched a new tourism initiative allowing residents and visitors to explore the Iranian capital through its metro network, following disruptions to the tourism sector during the recent war, the head of Tehran Municipality’s Tourism Headquarters said.

Belarus, Iran discuss expanding tourism co-operation

TEHRAN - Officials from Belarus and Iran discussed expanding bilateral co-operation in the tourism sector during a meeting in Minsk, according to a report published Monday by SB News.

By Mojtaba Gahestuni

Pamenar: Where painted doors speak the language of identity

TEHRAN - Nestled in the northern reaches of Dezful in southwestern Khuzestan province, the ancient village of Pamenar has emerged as one of Iran’s most distinctive rural destinations, blending cultural heritage, environmental identity, and community-based tourism into a living narrative of local memory. In recent years, the village has increasingly drawn attention as a candidate for future international heritage recognition, not only because of its natural beauty and historical character, but also due to innovative efforts by residents to preserve and showcase their cultural identity.

Iran president cites ancient Abarkuh cypress in message aimed at Trump

TEHRAN - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invoked the 4,500-year-old Abarkuh cypress tree in central Iran in remarks directed at US President Donald Trump, using the ancient tree as a symbol of Iran’s historical continuity and civilization.

Echoes of the past: The Shahdad Standard

The Shahdad Standard consists of a square metal plate (made of arsenical copper) attached to a metal pole. At the top of the pole, above a conical stone base, sits a small metal bird of prey with its wings spread open. The plate bears a crowded scene of human, animal, plant, and geometric figures, first raised in relief through metal casting and then beautifully outlined and detailed with engraving. All the people in this gathering hold their hands in a similar way, conveying a sense of mutual respect.

By Afshin Majlesi

Riab assessed against UN Tourism criteria for global recognition

TEHRAN - Officials in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province said the village of Riab in Gonabad County is being evaluated according to criteria set by the United Nations tourism body as part of its bid to be recognized among the world’s best tourism villages.

Kerman advances bid for UNESCO recognition of historic urban area

TEHRAN - Authorities in Kerman are moving forward with plans to seek UNESCO World Heritage recognition for a 70-hectare section of the city’s historical core, provincial officials said on Saturday.

Tehran to host fifth intl. conference on tourism and spirituality

TEHRAN - The fifth International Conference on Tourism and Spirituality will be held on May 20 at the University of Science and Culture, bringing together Iranian and foreign scholars to discuss the role of spirituality in modern tourism, organizers said. The conference is being organized through cooperation among researchers and academics from several Iranian universities, according to conference officials.

Clues of Parthian-Sasanian tomb complex discovered in central Iran

TEHRAN - Iranian cultural heritage officials said they have identified traces of a tomb complex dating back to the Parthian-Sasanian period in Tiran-Karvan county of Isfahan province, central Iran, marking what authorities described as the first known burial complex of its kind discovered in the area.