TEHRAN – Chairman and members of Cultural Committee of Majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly) paid a visit to cultural and potential tourist spots in Aras Free Zone during a trip to this northwestern region of Iran, a fax report released by the zone’s Public Relations Office noted on Saturday.

Emad Afrugh, the chairman, commented on great cultural and historical capacity of Aras and criticized the absence of a CHTO (Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization) office in the city of Jolfa for further development of tourism in the province. Moreover, Tajoddini, the deputy chairman, called for a ‘suitable budget allocation’ to turn places such as Saint Stepanos Church, holy Islamic shrines, Abbas Mirza Fort and Kardasht into a tourist hub for visitors, adding, “Some of these structures are over 1,000 years old and to create more things of comfort for the visitors they require renovation and repair.”

Aras Free Zone, 96 square kilometers, is located by Aras River bordering the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan. The talks on expanding its boundaries for promotion of tourism have been ongoing in Majlis for awhile. Ancient structures over 1,400 years are common in this area and the place enjoys mean temperature of 14 degrees on Celsius scale.