Traditional footwear craft experiences boom in Zanjan province

TEHRAN – The art of handcrafting Giveh, which is a lightweight and breathable footwear native to Iran, is flourishing in towns and villages of Zanjan province, a local tourism official has said.

Tourism minister cuts ribbon on traditional restaurant

TEHRAN – Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Monday inaugurated a traditional restaurant during his visit to Sari, the capital of the northern Mazandaran province.

Scenic Karaj-Chalus road considered to become national heritage

TEHRAN – Preliminary work of collecting data about Karaj-Chalus road, its associated structures, and nearby villages has been commenced by the tourism directorate of Alborz province to have the scenic road registered on Iran’s national heritage list.

Iran could become hub for ‘vaccine tourism’: minister

TEHRAN – Iran has the potential to become a destination for vaccine tourism regarding considerable efforts the country is making to develop series of domestic COVID-19 vaccines, the tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said.

Iran considers opening borders to vaccinated travelers

TEHRAN – Iran is weighing plans to open its borders to vaccinated tourists though it isn’t yet clear exactly when tourists will be allowed to arrive.

Iranian minister, Russian envoy discuss ways to expand tourism

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan on Tuesday discussed ways to expand tourism ties as the two countries are about to execute a visa-free agreement for tourist groups.

Haft-Tappeh and Tchogha Zanbil named best museum of the year

TEHRAN – Haft-Tappeh  and Tchogha Zanbil Museum, which largely showcases Elamite relics and monuments, has been selected as the best museum of the year.

Intl. travels fall by 80% in Iran due to coronavirus

TEHRAN – The average of international travels to and from Iran fell by 80 percent during the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on March 20, 2021) from a year earlier.

Amazing Kang is where the roof of one house is the yard of another

The hill-stepped village of Kang is a heaven for photographers and travels who seek off-the-beaten tracks.

Travel destinations: Kolah-Farangi mansion

Kolah-Farangi mansion is one of the most gorgeous tourist attractions in Rasht. The structure is located on the southern side of Mohtasham Garden (also known as the City Park).

Historical watermill starts rotating once again 

TEHRAN – An underground watermill, which is located in the village of Tiran, Isfahan province, has been fully restored to be a new destination for sightseers and history buffs.

Iran’s handicraft exports stand at $120m in 11 months

TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s handicrafts exports stood at $120 million during the first eleven months of the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (March 20, 2020 – February 18, 2021), Mehr reported.

400 beds to be added to accommodation capacity of Yazd

TEHRAN – A total of 400 beds is expected to be added to the accommodation capacity of the touristic Yazd province, a local official announced on Wednesday.

Access path to once out-of-reach fort under construction  

TEHRAN – Local authorities have launched a tourism project to construct an access path to Qahqaheh fortress, which was once an out-of-reach military monument in Meshkinshahr, northwestern Ardebil province.

Iranian handicrafts: Darayi-Bafi of Yazd

TEHRAN – The history of Yazd, which is known for its atmospheric alleyways, forests wind-catchers, and mud-brick houses, has entwined with the history of its textile industry.

Median-era citadel to turn into hub for intl. sightseers

TEHRAN – Local authorities are set to turn Nushijan citadel into a top destination for international sightseers and holidaymakers. The Median-era (c. 678 BC– c. 549 BC) fortress and fire temple lies 20km northwest of Malayer in Hamedan province.

Sassanid-era citadel to turn into cultural heritage base

TEHRAN – Qale Iraj, a gigantic mudbrick citadel dating back to Sassanid period (224–651) in southern Tehran, is set to be turned into a national cultural heritage base.

Intl. conference addresses tourism potentials of Lut Desert

TEHRAN – Tens of tourism and cultural heritage experts, academia, and researchers discussed the lesser-known tourism potentials of Lut Desert in a two-day online conference that ended on Friday.

Glimpses of Pan Bafi in Alamut

TEHRAN – Pan Bafi, which falls under the category of traditional textiles, is a prominent handicraft being practiced in Alamut in Qazvin province.

Tourism expected to rocket up in lesser-known Iranian province

TEHRAN – Extra support for digital businesses and various travel branches could rocket up the tourism industry in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the provincial tourism chief has said. 

Mosayeb Amiri appointed new director of RICHT

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Thursday appointed Mosayeb Amiri as the new director of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage & Tourism (RICHT).

Tehran, Zagreb underline need to enhance tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran and Croatia have discussed ways to enhance relations in the field of tourism.

Some $4.2m paid to corona-affected tourism, handicraft units in Zanjan

TEHRAN - More than 180 billion rials (about $4.2 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) in loans has been paid to tourism and handicraft businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Zanjan province.

Mirror of the sky: Visit Hoz-e Sultan to be turned into tourism hub

TEHRAN – Tourism directorate of Qom province is set to turn Hoz-e Sultan, a lonely salt lake in the heart of Iran, into a tourism hub.   "Hoz-e Sultan, which is one of the biggest natural mirrors in the country, will be turned into a tourism hub… and one of its goals is to empower the local communities by creating job opportunities," the provincial tourism chief, Alireza Arjmandi, said on Thursday.  

From mazy bazaars to nomadic lands: Visit Iran in a slow, no-tech fashion

TEHRAN – Hiking along the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, discovering secret side streets in a tiny Iranian village, walking through labyrinthine bazaars, or roaming down a rain forest path to rural cottages are some of the most memorable experiences can happen only on foot.

Iranian Tour Operators Association pursues tourist visas resumption

TEHRAN – Iranian Tour Operators Association is formulating a proposal for the resumption of tourist visas after months of suspension amid strict government measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Coronavirus: outbound travels slump by 85% during Iranian New Year holiday

TEHRAN – Iran’s outbound travels fell by 85 percent during the New Year (Noruz) holiday (March 21-April 4) compared with two years earlier, according to the head of the Association of Iranian Travel Agencies.

By Afshin Majlesi

Six destinations to visit in Hamedan when travel opens up

TEHRAN – It is more than a year since many countries around the world have imposed sweeping travel bans and advisories to stem the spread of novel coronavirus within their borders and beyond.