Iran’s foreign arrivals up 52.5% y/y

TEHRAN - The number of international tourists visiting Iran surged 52.5 percent in the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended on March 20) from a year earlier, deputy tourism chief has said.

Tehran Municipality negotiating to restore Taq Kasra in Iraq

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality is in talks with Baghdad’s urban planners and authorities to restore a number of aging monuments in Iraq including Taq Kasra, which is an architecturally-important Sasanian-era Persian monument.

Iran to host 2nd ECO conference, exhibit on health tourism

TEHRAN – Iran will be playing host to the 2nd International Health Tourism Conference of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which will be held in Ardebil from June 18 to 20, Mehr reported.

Fresh restorations to begin on Hindu Temple

TEHRAN – A fresh round of restoration work is to commence on the Hindu Temple in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, ISNA quoted a local tourism official as saying on Wednesday.

A spring day at Iranian Art Museum Garden  

Photos depict people reveling in bright weather at the Iranian Art Museum Garden in northern Tehran on March 21, 2019, which marks the first day of the current Iranian year.

University of Tehran to host 6th Startup Weekend on tourism

TEHRAN – The 6th Startup Weekend, which has adopted “Sustainable Tourism” as its focal theme, is to be hosted by the Faculty of Entrepreneurship of the University of Tehran.

Half a million visits to Sa’dabad museums registered in Noruz

TEHRAN – Iran tourism body has registered over half a million visits to museums at Tehran’s Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5).

By Moslem Foroudi

The story of 4000-year-old cypress in Abarkouh

A 4000-year-old cypress in Abarkouh is a must-see attraction while visiting the central Iranian city. The evergreen tree is inscribed on the National Heritage List.

1.1m visited Sistan-Baluchestan during Noruz

TEHRAN – Over 1.1 million visited Sistan-Baluchetan province during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5), which shows 19 percent increase in comparison to the same period last year, its governor general has said.

Japanese tour operators weighing Iran’s Kerman as a new destination

TEHRAN – A number of Japanese tour operators and ecotourism associates have recently visited natural attractions in Iran’s Kerman province, mulling over it to become a new destination.

Outbound tourism slumps by 45% over Noruz holidays: official

TEHRAN - Iran’s outbound tourism fell by 45 percent during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5) in comparison to the same period last year, a tourism official has said.

Niavaran complex hosts 8k visitors during Noruz

TEHRAN – A total of 80,835 people toured Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5).

Bagh-e Narenjestan: A must-see attraction while in Shiraz

TEHRAN - Set within a gorgeous garden, Bagh-e Narenjestan, which encircles a scenic pavilion, was built for the wealthy and powerful Mohammad-Ali Khan Qavam al-Molk in the late 19th century in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Flooding, rainfalls drop hotel occupancy in Noruz holidays

TEHRAN - Fewer people stayed in Iranian hotels during New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 4) compared to the same period a year earlier due to record flooding and rain showers, according to statistics released Monday by the head of Iran Hotels Association.

Over 8.5 million visited Iran’s heritage museums during Noruz

TEHRAN – More than 8.5 million people paid visit to heritage museums and historical sites across Iran during the New Year (Noruz) holidays, which ended on April 2.

Iran estimating flood damage to its historical sites, monuments

TEHRAN – A number of Iran’s age-old cultural heritage sites and monuments have been affected by heavy rainfall, flash floods and extreme weather in various parts of the country in the past weeks.

By Afshin Majlesi

Travel in Iran grows over Persian New Year holidays

TEHRAN - People in Iran made 74 million overnight stays in their domestic trips during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays, an increase of 20 percent year on year, Iran tourism chief announced on Sunday.

Over 74m overnight stays recorded across Iran in Noruz

TEHRAN – Iranians made over 74 million overnight stays during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays, starting March 21, CHTN reported.

By Afshin Majlesi

 Solid growth: A review of Iran’s tourism in 1397

TEHRAN – How Iran’s tourism industry has performed over the current Iranian calendar year 1397 (ending on March 20)? Well, according to data compiled by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, it has experienced a solid growth.

By Afshin Majlesi

Lipar, a small lake in pink

TEHRAN – Lipar, a small lake which usually turns pink, is an off-the-radar tourist destination in Iran, which has never been introduced completely!

Paris-Isfahan-Samarkand tourist route proposed

TEHRAN – Head of Uzbekistan Center of Islamic Civilizations has proposed stablishing a touristic itinerary, which connects Paris to Isfahan and Samarkand, IRNA reported.

Muscat exhibit takes a look at crafts by Iranians

TEHRAN – Several Iranian crafters promoted their works at a Muscat exhibition, which ran from March 10 to 13 at the Sahwa Park of the Omani capital.

First Tehran-Hamedan passenger train inaugurated

TEHRAN – The first passenger train from Tehran to Hamedan was inaugurated on Wednesday, establishing a new link between the two Iranian cities, ISNA reported.

Travel in Iran seen to grow by 20% over Noruz holidays: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has estimated that domestic trips would grow by 20 percent over the New Year holidays (Noruz, staring March 21) from a year earlier, Mehr reported.

By Moslem Foroudi

Abarkouh hidden pearl

Yazd- Abarkouh, a city with a thousand years of splendid background, is located in southwest of Yazd province, with an area of 5,641 square kilometers.

Iran, Iraq likely to relax visa rules to boost investment, tourism

TEHRAN – Iran and Iraq are working out an agreement to ease some visa rules in an effort to boost investment and tourism, IRNA reported.

Kish sets sights on more travelers, intl. events

TEHRAN – As an established leisure destination, Iran’s Kish Island, plans to attract more travelers by playing host to further regional and international events.

Poets’ Mausoleum, a prime cultural destination

TEHRAN – Poets’ Mausoleum or Maqbaratoshoara is a prime cultural destination for travelers to Tabriz. It attracts a great number of Iranian and foreign visitors interested in literature and art.

Pre-historic human remains, coffins, potteries unearthed in Hamedan

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has recently unearthed pre-historic human remains, coffins and potteries during an urgent excavation in Hamedan, west-central Iran.

Mazandaran villages ready to host Noruz holidaymakers

TEHRAN – Necessary arrangements for hosting travelers during Noruz (New Year holidays, starting March 21) have been made in 208 villages across Mazandaran province, northern Iran, a local official has said, IRNA reported.