On the track of Iran’s ‘Assassins’ in once impenetrable mountainous castle

TEHRAN – Nested on top of a hill in a relatively remote village amidst the northern Iran’s Alborz Mountains, a well-fortified castle was sheltering the followers of Hasan-e Sabbah (1070–1124), spiritual leader of Islam’s heretical Ismaili sect, known as ‘Assassins’.

IranAir resumes flights to Europe after temporary halt over coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier, IranAir on Wednesday resumed flights to European destinations following a temporary suspension over the outbreak of the coronavirus, according to sources.

Iran museums, historical sites shut down amid fears of virus outbreak

TEHRAN – Iran has temporarily closed cultural heritage museums and historical sites in 15 provinces in a preventive measure amid fears of coronavirus outbreak.

I love Iranians, their unique culture: Ecuador’s ambassador

TEHRAN - German Alejandro Ortega Almeida, Ecuador’s ambassador to Tehran, has said he loves Iranians and their unique culture after three years of stay in the country and visiting places at its every corner.

By Afshin Majlesi

Beijing envoy says will make every effort to expand Iran-China tourism ties

Chinese ambassador in Tehran Chang Hua said on Wednesday that the embassy will make every effort to expand tourism relations between the two countries.

Foreign arrivals in Mazandaran surge 38 percent

TEHRAN – The number of foreign visitors arriving in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province surged 38 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), compared with the same period last year, provincial deputy tourism chief has said.

Cloudburst closes UNESCO-tagged geopark in Iran’s Qeshm

TEHRAN – Severe rainstorms over the past few days have led to the temporarily closure of Qeshm Geopark in the Persian Gulf, aiming to safeguard eco-travelers and visitors to the UNESCO-registered site.

Maymand: A very old village of troglodytes

TEHRAN - The term “cave dwellers” conjures up prehistoric images in your mind when caves served as one of the earliest dwellings for human beings. Here we want to take a look at Maymand, an exemplar manmade-cave dwelling in southeast Iran, where people made a living about five or six millennia ago.

Some 2,000 eco-lodges operating across Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has been constructing hundreds of eco-lodge guesthouses over the past couple of years to meet demands of rising eco-travelers and sightseers and now about 2,000 eco-lodges are in operation across the country.

3,000-year-old silk spinning still practiced in Iran

TEHRAN – There are silk makers in different parts of Iran, mainly in northern Gilan and northeastern Khorasan Razavi provinces, that still practice the trade their ancestors did some 3,000 years ago.

ECO Cultural Institute seeks tourism boom, new president says

TEHRAN – The newly-appointed president of the Economic Cooperation Organization Cultural Institute said on Monday that development of tourism industry is a priority of her mission through launching joint projects with other member states.

17 tourism projects worth $35m to get off the ground in Ardebil

TEHRAN – Seventeen tourism projects, worth 1,500 billion rials (some $35 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) will be inaugurated in northwestern Ardebil province in the near future.

Tehran, Kabul discuss ways to broaden medical tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iranian and Afghan officials on Saturday exchanged views on ways to deepen health cooperation in a wide-ranging arenas, including medical tourism, education and student scholarships.

Tourism and Iran’s Transition Economy

All over the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, the vast potential of tourism is being explored. Iran needs to do the same to shift away from oil dependency since globally; we are moving towards a greener economy. Governments and businesses are not only declaring a commitment to sustainable models of operation but are actively implementing national-level strategies to coordinate this transition.

Iran to unveil national brand name for tourism

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister has said that the national brand for tourism will be unveiled on February 11, 2020.

Iranian provinces tasked to expand own overseas tourism markets

TEHRAN – In order to promote decentralization in the domestic tourism industry, each Iranian province is tasked to develop its own tourism market abroad, particularly for visitors from nearby countries.

Birdwatching can propel tourism growth in Caspian Sea island

TEHRAN – Ashuradeh, Iran’s sole island in the Caspian Sea, and its surrounding wetlands constitute a rich ecological haven for many migratory birds. However, birdwatching has remained somehow an untapped potential for tourism growth in the coastal region.

American travel-food vlogger takes social media by storm in Iran

TEHRAN – Thailand-based American food and travel vlogger Mark Wiens has recently arrived in Tehran, tasting street foods and sending videos to hundreds of thousands of his followers on the social media.

Iran promoting tourism, traditions and arts at Ankara exhibit

TEHRAN – Iranian exhibitors, tour operators, artists and craftspeople are promoting tourism, traditions and arts of the ancient land at the 4th Travelexpo Ankara (locally named “Turizm ve Seyahat Fuari”, which is currently underway at the Turkish capital city.

Foreign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol jump 50% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN - The number of foreign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol soared 50 percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from a year earlier, governor of the Iranian oasis town said on Saturday.

Visit ‘Owpart’ where jungle borders desert in Iran

TEHRAN – Amongst wanders of the nature is sudden climate change when you pass Iran’s northern Mazandaran province for Semnan in its south. Here the Owpart region acts like an elevated natural barrier, dividing lush jungles from the harsh, sun-scorched desert lands.

A wild, remote adventure to tour Iran’s giant dunes

TEHRAN – Shahdad, a major part of the UNESCO-registered Lut desert, has long been a destination for adventurers, nature lovers, off-roaders and trekkers.

Discover incredible rock formations in southern Iranian island 

TEHRAN – You can find one of the world’s most eye-catching nature’s creativities at its finest on Qeshm Island, southern Iran, where stunning rock formations are a sign of perpetual thumping of the waves, storms and raging winds.

Sanctions no obstacle for Austrian tourists to visit Iran: envoy

TEHRAN – Vienna’s ambassador to Tehran believes that U.S. sanctions against Iran will be no obstacle in the path of Austrian tourists to travel to the Islamic Republic.

Chabahar Free Zone seeks to attract more travelers

TEHRAN – Chabahar Free Zone Organization plans to develop tourism infrastructure in order to attract more travelers to the port area, which is situated in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Mighan wetland hosts migratory birds once again

TEHRAN – Mighan wetland in central province of Markazi has returned back to life due to above normal rainfall and is now home to flocks of migratory birds which come to spend the winter, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

By Afshin Majlesi

Austria shares know-how to boost sustainable tourism in Iran: envoy

TEHRAN – Vienna’s ambassador to Tehran, Stefan Scholz, said on Wednesday that Austria has launched a new partnership with Iran to promote an inclusive growth of tourism and economy.

Eco-lodges thriving in Iran’s Golestan province

TEHRAN – The idea of staying at an eco-lodge has been welcomed by thousands of travelers to Golestan province, northern Iran.

Iran, Austria seek to expand tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iranian and Austrian officials on Wednesday discussed ways to expand tourism ties through promoting sustainable ecotourism and holding a joint symposium in this regard.

Visit mysterious Katale-Khor in western Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has many caves, some of which are unique and special. Situated in Zanjan province, Katale-Khor cave offers its visitors breathtaking scenes of natural crystals and rock formation.