Iran orders reopening of all museums and heritage sites after wartime closure

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry has ordered the reopening of all museums, historical palaces, and archaeological sites across the country, following months of closure after the 12-day war with Israel.

Shalbafian: Iran ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism

TEHRAN—Iran is ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism, said Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, a senior official of Tourism Ministry.

Rural literary tourism route launched in Kandelous, northern Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has inaugurated a rural literary tourism route in the village of Kandelous in northern Mazandaran province, linking local folklore with cultural and ecological tourism, officials said.

Global tourism rises 5% in first half of 2025, UN Tourism says

TEHRAN – International tourist arrivals across the globe grew 5% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 4%, according to UN Tourism.

Iran to host debut tourism expo focused on children and teens

TEHRAN – Iran will host its first festival and exhibition on children and youth tourism in Tehran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Tehran launches China-focused tourism marketing course with UN support

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has launched an online training program on tourism marketing aimed at attracting Chinese visitors, with support from the UN Tourism (United Nations World Tourism Organization), an official said on Thursday.

Iran among world’s best-performing destinations in Q1, deputy minister

TEHRAN—The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in its latest report in social media, named Iran among top countries in terms of performance in tourism sector during the first quarter of 2025, said the deputy tourism minister, Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpei, in a meeting of policymaking council of VisitIran website which was held at Persian Gulf Hall of Tourism Ministry in July 15 with participation of private and state sectors.

Tehran urban tourism forum postponed amid regional tensions

TEHRAN – An international forum on urban tourism, originally set to take place in Tehran on June 24–25, has been officially postponed due to escalating regional tensions following Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this month.

Esfahak village gains UNESCO research chair for earth architecture

TEHRAN - The village of Esfahak in South Khorasan province has been awarded one of UNESCO’s 34 prestigious research chairs, marking an achievement for the local and national cultural heritage and scientific communities.

Shaikha Al Nowais elected as secretary-general of UN Tourism

TEHRAN – In a landmark decision on Friday, the Executive Council of UN Tourism elected Shaikha Al Nowais of the United Arab Emirates as its next secretary-general for the 2026–2029 term.

Tehran to host UN Tourism’s forum on urban tourism

Tehran, Iran – The UN Tourism, in collaboration with Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, will host the UN Tourism Global Forum on Urban Tourism in Tehran from June 24 to 25.

By Afshin Majlesi

Reviving roots: a new chapter in Iran’s rural tourism

KERMAN - On May 21, the first-ever national celebration of ecolodges brought together some 600 ecolodge managers, travel insiders, and media personnel from across the country.

Kandelous village in northern Iran implements accessible tourism measures

TEHRAN - Kandelous village in Mazandaran province has become one of Iran’s pioneering rural destinations to successfully implement “accessible tourism” initiatives, according to Mehdi Es’haqi, the deputy provincial tourism chief.

Mohseni-Bandpei calls on UN Tourism to help show a clear image of Iran

TEHRAN—Iran’s deputy minister of tourism has urged fighting against Iranophobia and giving a true image of the country, as he referred to the recent vote that the Islamic Republic gained for membership in the administrative council of the UN Tourism.

Hasanlu village to be nominated for UN label as premier destination

TEHRAN - The ancient village of Hasanlu in northwest Iran is nearing completion of its dossier for inscription as one of the Best Tourism Villages, a prestigious label given by UN Tourism.

Tehran to host UN Tourism’s inaugural forum dedicated to urban attractions

TEHRAN - Tehran has been selected to host UN Tourism’s first-ever urban forum dedicated to urban attractions, following a key agreement reached on the sidelines of a regional conference organized by the UN body in Indonesia.

Iran re-elected to executive council of UN Tourism, solidifying role in global tourism policy

TEHRAN – Iran has been re-elected as a member of the Executive Council of UN Tourism, the primary international decision-making body in the field of tourism, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey.

Fahraj recognized as Iran’s first accessible tourism village

TEHRAN - The historic village of Fahraj in Yazd province has been officially recognized as Iran’s first accessible tourism village.

Iran advances cultural diplomacy at UAE investment forum

TEHRAN – Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, has emphasized the strategic significance of Iran’s participation in the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress 2025, held last week in the United Arab Emirates. In a recent statement, the minister described the event as a vital platform for advancing Iran’s cultural diplomacy and promoting the country’s rich civilizational identity on the global stage.

Tourism minister attends global investment forum in UAE to promote cooperation

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday evening to participate in the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress 2025, one of the world’s leading platforms for international investment and economic dialogue.

Iran to host largest eco-tourism gathering in May

TEHRAN - Iran is set to host its largest eco-tourism gathering on May 21 (“Ordibehesht 31”), bringing together hundreds of eco-lodge managers, government officials, and international representatives to celebrate and promote sustainable tourism.

UN Tourism chief highlights Iran’s role in travel industry

TEHRAN – UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has emphasized the need to enhance cooperation with Iran to foster sustainable development in the tourism industry.