TEHRAN - Zarand, in Iran’s Kerman province, has become the first city in the country to officially publish a calendar of its national tourism events in the past eight years.

According to IRIB, Head of Zarand Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Mohammad Eslami said that the first calendar was unveiled in 2018, and since then, people have been informed about upcoming programs and occasions before the start of each year.

He added that 20 cultural, artistic and tourism events have been planned for 2026, one of which will be held at the national level, namely the national meteor festival and market, and the other programs will be held at the provincial, national and regional levels.

Emphasizing the importance of public participation in tourism sector, he said: “I believe that until the citizens of a region become tourists, we cannot expect to attract foreign tourists.”

Eslami added: “The festivals we defined were for this purpose, people from each village and region participate in organizing the programs, and an average of 5,000-15,000 people attend each event.”

Referring to the role of festivals in boosting the local economy, he said: “These events have so far created about 40 direct jobs in the field of handicrafts and local products. Many breadwinner women have achieved a stable income by presenting their products at festivals without receiving loans or administrative support.”

Emphasizing the role of cultural events in strengthening the social vitality, Eslami said that  the continuous holding of festivals in different regions of Zarand has increased social interactions, public participation, and created a happy and dynamic atmosphere across the county. 

“These events, focusing on the people and local culture, have provided opportunities for social cooperation and strengthened the sense of belonging to the city and the village, and have brought positive feedback from social and executive institutions.”

He added: “Introducing different regions of Zarand and creating social demands have also been side effects of these events. When a festival is held in a village, the presence of people makes the relevant departments take action more quickly to improve the conditions of that area.”

Pointing out that Zarand has been named as the city of festivals in Iran and at times the capital of festivals in the country, he said: “Our events cover a variety of areas, from historical and natural tourism to ritual, religious and culinary tourism. We just need to find an inspiration to invite people to attend the programs, and fortunately, the reception has always been impressive.”

KD