By Afshin Majlesi

North Khorasan, the province I almost missed

TEHRAN - A friend’s suggestion was all it took to set me on the road to North Khorasan, one of the few Iranian provinces I had never visited and, until then, had rarely considered as a travel destination.

By Afshin Majlesi

Jajarm offers budget-friendly rural escape, but rail links need improvement

JAJARM, North Khorasan Province – With its quiet rural surroundings, historical railway station and proximity to protected natural areas, Jajarm has the potential to attract travelers seeking an affordable alternative to Iran’s busier tourist destinations. But poor railway facilities, limited train tickets and a shortage of visitor services remain major obstacles to turning that potential into a thriving tourism destination.

By Afshin Majlesi

Tehran gallery traces capital’s past, explores future of smart tourism

TEHRAN – A new gallery in Tehran is taking visitors on a journey through the capital’s political, social, cultural and artistic history while using digital technology and artificial intelligence to offer a glimpse of how tourism in the city could evolve in the future.

Afshin Majlesi

Kenargerd Caravanserai gets new life as cultural, tourism complex

TEHRAN – The first phase of restoration and development works at the historic Kenargerd Caravanserai in Hasanabad, Fashapuyeh district, south of Tehran province, was inaugurated on Sunday, marking World Tourism Day.

By Afshin Majlesi

In Urmia, the grape is more than a fruit

URMIA, West Azarbaijan Province - By late afternoon, the road out of Urmia was beginning to clog. Our flight had landed around 5 p.m., and after a quick check-in at the hotel, we set off for Chi Chest Coastal Village, near Lake Urmia, where the 9th Urmia Grape Festival was underway from Sep.10 to 20.

Global tourism growth slows to 0.4% in H1

TEHRAN - International tourism grew by 0.4% in the first half of 2026, with around 690 million tourists travelling abroad as rising travel costs, geopolitical tensions and the conflict in West Asia weighed on global demand, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism.

By Afshin Majlesi

From rail to coast and wellness: A new tourism chain takes shape in northern Iran

TEHRAN - Traveling with a group of fellow journalists from Tehran to Bandar-e Anzali recently offered us more than a two-day tour of tourism projects under development. The journey was designed to show how railway travel, coastal destinations, accommodation, recreation and wellness services could be brought together to form a single tourism experience.

By Afshin Majlesi

Alborz artisans share their craft, passion and concerns

TEHRAN - World Handicrafts Day, observed annually on June 10, is an occasion to celebrate the creativity, skills and cultural heritage of artisans around the globe.

Tasting chikoo, papaya and guava; a unique experience for tourists in Darak Village

TEHRAN – Darak Village, a nominee for the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages 2026 program and located in Zarabad county, Sistan-Baluchestan province, has recently played host to a number of tourists, travel bloggers, content creators and social media influencers who traveled to the region to explore its unique tourism potential, a tourism official told the Tehran Times on Tuesday.

Joint initiative planned to revive rural economy through tourism, digital connectivity

TEHRAN - Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said on Saturday that his ministry and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology are preparing a joint program aimed at creating jobs, expanding tourism and encouraging reverse migration to rural areas.

Mesr village nears global recognition as model of sustainable desert tourism

TEHRAN – The desert village of Mesr, located in Khur and Biabanak county in Iran’s central Isfahan province, has successfully passed the preliminary stages of international evaluation and is now on the verge of being included in the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) program recognizing the Best Tourism Villages worldwide.

By Afshin Majlesi

Riab, an example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation

TEHRAN – The historical village of Riab in eastern Iran is emerging as a leading example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation as it seeks international recognition through the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Best Tourism Villages initiative.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran government pledges support for rural eco-lodges, village revival

TEHRAN - Iran’s government will continue efforts to remove barriers to rural development and support operators of eco-lodges as part of a broader strategy to revive villages and strengthen local economies and cultural identity, senior officials said on Tuesday at a national conference marking eco-lodge day.

Riab cited as model for community-based tourism

TEHRAN - The village of Riab in eastern Iran has emerged as a model for community-based tourism development and has been nominated as one of Iran’s candidates for the Best Tourism Villages program organized by the UN Tourism.

By Afshin Majlesi

Riab assessed against UN Tourism criteria for global recognition

TEHRAN - Officials in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province said the village of Riab in Gonabad County is being evaluated according to criteria set by the United Nations tourism body as part of its bid to be recognized among the world’s best tourism villages.

Natural heritage overlooked in Iran’s tourism policy, researcher says

TEHRAN – Iran’s natural heritage is an integral part of the country’s national identity but remains poorly defined, under-prioritized and constrained by institutional conflicts, a natural heritage expert said.