Ardebil ready to jumpstart tourism after coronavirus

TEHRAN – The tourism sector of Ardebil province, northwestern Iran, is prepared to recover after the coronavirus crisis ends, a provincial tourism chief has said.

International Craft Awards to focus on COVID-19 crisis: deputy minister

TEHRAN – The 4th International Craft Awards is slated to be held this year focusing on the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the handicraft industry, Iran’s deputy tourism minister has said. 

Mapping survey discovers ancient sites in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Tens of centuries-old relics and sites have recently been discovered during a mapping survey, which is underway across the Marvdasht plain, which is an archaeologically-rich area once the seat of power for the Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 550 – 330 BC) in southern Iran.

By  Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Muharram mourning rituals: Nakhlgardani in Shahroud

Nakhlgardani or palm-carrying ritual is the carrying of a huge wooden coffin and is a symbol of Muharram mourning in Iran. In the first decade of this month, the coffin, while covered with black and green cloth, is carried by numerous mourners due to its heavyweight. This structure is kept in Husseiniyehs (religious places) and mosques for the rest of the year.

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.

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.

Nonzero: only 74 international travelers visit Iran during spring

TEHRAN – The number of foreign travelers to Iran has drastically plunged due to the global coronavirus pandemic as the Islamic Republic registered only 74 visits during the spring season.

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).

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.

Rural capacities has diversified tourism in Sarein: MP

TEHRAN – Paying attention to the rural tourism and directing tourists to the surrounding villages by creating the necessary infrastructure in these areas has taken Sarein tourism out of a one-dimensional state, a member of parliament has said.

'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.

Sheikh Fazlollah Noori Mosque in Tehran being restored, reinforced

TEHRAN – A team of cultural heritage experts, architects and restorers have commenced a project on Sheikh Fazlollah Noori Mosque in a bid to bring the centuries-old monument, which is located in downtown Tehran, back to its former glory.

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.

Kuhdasht cave has ample evidence of prehistorical dwellers: archaeologist

TEHRAN - Kuhdasht cave in the western province of Lorestan bears ample evidence of prehistorical dwellers and it has vast potential to be a tourism hub, an Iranian archaeologist has said.

‘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.

‘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.

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’.

Coronavirus-crippled tourism industry needs national support to rebound: official

TEHRAN – The domestic tourism industry crippled by the coronavirus pandemic needs national support to make a rebound, deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said.

Specialized workshop aims to upgrade handicraft design

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts plans to organize an on-line workshop for craftspeople to upgrade handicraft design methods in a bid to expand both domestic and foreign sales markets.