TEHRAN – Cultural heritage authorities in Shahroud have finalized a dossier to nominate the village of Qaleh Bala in Semnan province for inscription by the UN Tourism, a local official said on Saturday.

Seyyed Sadeq Rezavian, head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Office in Shahroud, said the nomination file has been under preparation for eight months and is now ready for submission.

“We have worked for about eight months on the global registration dossier of Qaleh Bala so that a comprehensive and presentable program can be submitted to the UN Tourism,” Rezavian told reporters at his office.

He said that at a meeting held earlier this month at the national tourism desk of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the file was assessed to be in a favorable position compared to other selected villages across the country.

Rezavian said previous submissions had been unsuccessful but expressed hope that a complete dossier could be presented this year. “Everything depends on the opinion of UN evaluators, who must announce the final decision,” he said.

Qaleh Bala is located in Shahroud county in Semnan province, on the southern slopes of Mount Shahvar at the edge of Iran’s central desert and near the Kharturan protected area.

The village is known for its architecture built with local materials including adobe, mud, stone and wood. Local residents have developed ecotourism initiatives in recent years, alongside efforts to preserve seasonal rituals, folk music and oral traditions.

Best Tourism Villages highlight communities that are working to safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their natural resources and create economic opportunities through tourism. “These villages show that by embracing tourism, they can promote social inclusion and build a future where no one is left behind,” UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has said.

AM