TEHRAN—Sistan-Baluchestan province with its Makkoran coasts has unique potentials for sea-based tourism which can play an important role in economic prosperity of the region.

As a gate to Sea of Oman, this southeastern province of Iran has rich history and culture, IRIB wrote. 

Due to its strategic geographical location and extensive coasts, Sistan-Baluchestan has turned into an important tourist region of the country. 

Makkoran coasts with limpid water, white sand beaches, and spectacular rocks creates numerous attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.  It can turn into a marine-based tourism hub of the region. 

Sistan-Baluchestan is of high importance due to its rich cultural heritage. Nowruz travelers who visit this province, become familiar with a mix of rich heritage, handicrafts, tourism attractions, and ancient sites and gain a memorable experience. 

Handicrafts with special diversity and beauty are considered as important tourism elements of the province. These handicrafts, inspired by traditional arts of local people, can be  valuable souvenirs and income sources for the local artisans.

Chabahar, as a gem of sea-based tourism, has numerous attractions like Makkoran coasts. It has turned into a major tourism destination of Sistan-Baluchestan province.

The sea-based tourism creates unique opportunities for economic development of  Sistan-Baluchestan province including establishing hotels and coastal accommodation sites, promoting restaurants and cafes, launching recreational and tourism  centers and supporting local handicrafts. 

Therefore, state and private sectors should cooperate with each other, compile and implement the comprehensive tourism development programs of the province.  These programs should include investment in infrastructure, supporting local artisans and crafters, marketing, publicity, and training the manpower.

Promotion of sea-based tourism in Sistan-Baluchestan can help generate jobs, increase income, boost economic development of the province and preserve the environment and culture of local people. 

Supplying subsidized fuel for domestic and international recreational vessels was recently ratified by the Cabinet. After proposing  the preliminary suggestion by Sistan-Baluchestan Governor-General Mansour Bijar and his constant follow-ups, this important decision was announced in the gathering of governors-general of the coastal provinces. In continuation, Minister of Cultural Heritage Reza Salehi-Amiri  issued this in the Cabinet and prepared the grounds for approval of this strategic ratification.

This ratification has been notified to the Ministries of Cultural Heritage, Oil, Road and Urban Construction, and Agriculture for implementation.

Bijar said that based on this plan, all domestic and international recreational vessels, without considering the countries’ flags, can use subsidized fuel after entering the coastal strip and getting the required standards. 

He explained that the vessels are required to receive health license for  passenger transportation in accordance with SOLAS convention and national standards at first. Then, after obtaining work permit from Cultural Heritage Ministry, they are introduced to the Oil Ministry for receiving the subsidized fuel, he added. 

Also, Alireza Shahbakhsh, the deputy head of Sistan-Baluchestan Cultural Heritage Department, pointed to the importance of fuel price in determining the cost of sightseeing tours across the province. “Given the high extent of Sistan-Baluchestan province, the fuel cost has an important effect on final cost of tourism tours. Therefore, ratification of the subsidized fuel plan is considered an important step towards reduction of costs and increase in competitiveness.”

The most significant impact of this plan will be rise in number of tourists, development of tourism infrastructures and generation of new jobs, he added. 

He emphasized that boosting sea-based economy will promote sea-based industries and generate diverse trade opportunities. 

Shahbakhsh said that this plan is under implementation and required preliminaries  are under completion via tourism system to issue permit for the vessels. 

Issuing permit for the vessels is tied to the approval of Cultural Heritage Ministry, he added. 
KD