Private sector investing $7.3b in Khorasan Razavi tourism projects

TEHRAN – Currently, 243 tourism-related projects worth 310 trillion rials (around $7.3 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) are currently being developed in Khorasan Razavi province by private investors. 

We have to hire 300,000 workers to enhance cultural heritage protection: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister has said that his ministry must hire 300,000 workers in a bid to enhance the protection of cultural heritage sites, relics, and monuments.

Iranian craftspeople, businesses incur $452m loss due to coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Thursday said that the handicrafts industry and related businesses across the country have suffered a loss of 19,000 billion rials (some $452 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Children’s tourism company makes debut in Iran

TEHRAN – The first company in Iran specialized in children’s cultural tourism has been registered in the UNESCO-tagged city of Yazd aiming to pay more attention to children and make them happier.

If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart: UNWTO Secretary-General

TEHRAN – In his latest massage regarding the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General has said “If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart.”

Committee formed to safeguard ancient cisterns, watermills in Meybod

TEHRAN – A cultural heritage committee has been set up tasked to lay the ground for safeguarding ancient cisterns, watermills, public bathhouses, and qanats (subterranean aqueducts), which are scattered in and around the oasis city of Meybod, central Yazd province.

By Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Candle and Lamp Ceremony in Shahroud Tekiyehs during Muharram

Tekiyehs (prayer halls) of Bazaar, Golshan, Qaleh, Shariat, and especially Tekiyeh of Bid Abad, which is one of the old Tekiyehs of Shahroud, hold this traditional ceremony with special ceremonies. In this ritual, which begins minutes after sunset, the servants of these Tekiyehs, known as "watchmen", stand in a row in front of the Saqqakhaneh (A small indent in the wall overlooking some passages where water was poured for people to drink and had a kind of religious sanctity), which is called the lampstand. It is also common to play the trumpet to inform local servants during candle and lamp ceremonies. The custodian of the mosque and the elders also stand in front of the lighthouse, and the servants, who are on duty, line up in front of them.

People’s health is our first priority: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister has said that his ministry is in full coordination with the Ministry of Health for strictly implementing health protocols in travel destinations, hospitably centers, and museums, amongst others, underlining that “people’s health is our first priority.”

UNESCO-tagged hydraulic ensemble to be dredged

TEHRAN – A dredging project has started at parts of Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, a UNESCO-registered ensemble in southwest Iran, which is known globally as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’.

Advanced digital mapping starts at UNESCO-tagged Tchogha Zanbil, Haft-Tappeh

TEHRAN – A new digital mapping has been commenced at the UNESCO-registered Tchogha Zanbil and its nearby archaeological site, Haft-Tappeh, using an advanced low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Profit or loss? 81 historical sites up for auction to be ceded to private sector

TEHRAN – A total of 81 historical sites and monuments across Iran will soon be up for grabs in an auction to be temporarily ceded to the private sector reportedly aimed at achieving higher productivity and better maintenance.

National Museum puts ancient medical equipment collection online

TEHRAN – The National Museum of Iran has put tens of centuries-old medical equipment online in a bid to pay tribute to huge sacrifices Iranian healthcare workers have made during the coronavirus era.

'Newly-found skeletons may address bloody conflict during Alexander the Great’s invasion of Persia'

TEHRAN – A number of human skeletons, recently unearthed from ancient water ducts in Persepolis, maybe related to a bloody conflict between Persians (Iranians) and invaders led by Alexander the Great in c. 330 BC, an Iranian cultural heritage expert said on Sunday.

50 Iranian properties on tentative list of UNESCO

TEHRAN – A total of 50 Iranian properties have already been placed on the tentative list for [possible] inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in the years to come.

IranAir to resume Tehran-Madrid flights after 17 years   

TEHRAN – The Iranian embassy in Spain has announced that the country’s flag carrier IranAir will resume flights after 17 years between Tehran and Madrid.

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

400-year-old cistern restored in Isfahan

TEHRAN - The historical Tudeshk cistern, a vast subterranean reservoir for storing water in Isfahan province, has been fully restored and is ready to be toured by visitors, researchers, and architecture enthusiasts.

‘Half the world’ Isfahan to embrace another tourism hub

TEHRAN – Tepe Ashraf, the sole archaeological hill in Isfahan, which has recently yielded significant evidence of ancient life in the central Iranian city, will be turning into a new tourism destination particularly for researchers, history buffs and people interested in archaeology.

Safavid-era caravanserai in Semnan being restored

TEHRAN – A team of cultural heritage experts and restorers has commenced work on a Safavid-era (1501-1736) caravanserai, which is located in Lasjerd, north-central Semnan province.

‘Diplomacy Package’ to help Iran recover virus-hit tourism

TEHRAN – Iran is formulating a new initiative called “Tourism Diplomacy Package” to help the tourism sector recover from the coronavirus impact through using diplomacy to accelerate development projects and increase incoming tourists.

Jameh Mosque of Urmia undergoes new round of excavation

TEHRAN – An archaeological project has been commenced on the eastern side of the centuries-old Jameh Mosque of Urmia, which stands tall in the city of Urmia, the capital of northwestern East Azarbaijan province.

Persian cuisine: Khoresh-e Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian herb, bean and lamb stew)

TEHRAN – Khoresh-e Ghormeh Sabzi is known as one of the most prominent dishes in Persian culinary heritage. The herb stew is loaded with the flavors of several different green herbs and it’s traditionally served atop white rice.

First Tehran-Vienna flight since COVID-19 outbreak scheduled for Saturday 

TEHRAN - Iran’s flag carrier Homa, known internationally as IranAir, is scheduled to resume flights to the Austrian capital, Vienna, following months of suspension over the coronavirus outbreak.

Another restoration season comes to end on Iran’s ‘Lilliput’

TEHRAN – The fourth season of restoration work has recently been completed on the mysterious village of Makhunik, which is commonly known as the country’s ‘Lilliput’.

Skeleton of another ‘Parthian lady’ discovered in Isfahan

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found what they say is the skeleton of the second Parthian-era (247 BC – 224 CE) lady at the ancient Tepe Ashraf in Isfahan, hoping new range of discoveries offer novel clues about the history of the central Iranian city.