TEHRAN - Anzali Free Zone, which is located in northern Iran, is a popular destination for travelers from Azerbaijan, Russia and Iraq.

Situated in Gilan province, Anzali Free Zone is the sole free zone in the southern part of the Caspian Sea with an area of 9,400 hectares and 40 kilometers shoreline.

“Anzali Free Zone’s location is close to Bandar Anzali, Rasht and Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh in Gilan province making it a tourism destination. Therefore, the interest in natural resources of the region has attracted foreign tourists from Azerbaijan, Russia and Iraq,” Reza Masrour, managing director of the free zone, told Trend in an interview, Azer News reported on Sunday.

“In the past 10 months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), around 2,647 foreign tourists visited Anzali Free Zone and enjoyed the tourism, commercial and economic capacities of the region. The statistics indicate a 23 percent increase compared to the last year,” he stated.

“Eco-tourism houses have become popular among many tourists, and other projects, such as an aquarium and a reptile garden, a marina, a sea park, a coastal complex and sport centers, eco-tourism plans and building resorts alongside water festivals have attracted many foreign and domestic tourists to the region,” the official added.

Launched in 2005, the economic hub has special advantages such as strategic transportation and transit position by being in the International North–South Transport Corridor. It embraces some 15 hotels, motels and residential complexes with a capacity of 5800 beds.

AFM/MQ/MG