By Afshin Majlesi

Why Iran expects tourism boom after coronavirus

TEHRAN – The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought travel to a standstill nearly all over the globe, including Iran, causing huge job and revenue losses.

Shiraz workshop to explore legal issues concerning World Heritage sites

TEHRAN - University of Shiraz will tomorrow play host to an international workshop, which spotlights various legal issues dealing with UNESCO World Heritage sites across the globe.

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.

Iran celebrates Hyrcanian Forests becoming World Heritage

TEHRAN – Iran on Thursday held a ceremony to officially celebrate Hyrcanian Forests for being designated as a World Heritage site. Experts say that parts of the woodland date back some 50 million years.

Arbaeen hospitality gains UNESCO heritage status

TEHRAN – The generous hospitality of Iraqi people during the Arbaeen pilgrimage has been added to UNESCO’s prestigious heritage list.

President Rouhani invited to Hyrcanian Forest World Heritage celebration

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has been invited to attend a ceremony to celebrate registration of Hyrcanian Forest as a UNESCO World Heritage.

Iran’s prehistoric Hyrcanian Forest still unknown to many

TEHRAN – Iran’s UNESCO-registered Hyrcanian Forest (also known as Caspian Forest), dating back some 50 million years, is a unique place that is still unknown to many.

By Afshin Majlesi

Spark your wanderlust: how influencers can help?

In the current fast-paced realm of advertising and marketing, travel influencers have changed the whole game as they have succeeded to materialize a totally new and self-directed channels to reach audiences in a more authentic and personal way, even influencing to shape their wanderlusts.

Hamedan to host UNESCO transnational nomination of Silk Roads meeting

TEHRAN – Iran’s ancient city of Hamedan will host the 6th meeting of the Coordinating Committee on the Serial Transnational World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads from September 23 to 26.

Iran eyes to gain a UNESCO tag for its “Martian Mountains”

TEHRAN – Iran is planning on developing a dossier for its “Martian Mountains”, commonly known as “Miniature Mountains”, for a possible inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

UNESCO-tagged Lut Desert draws 5,000 foreign visitors a year

TEHRAN – Over 5,000 foreign sightseers visited the UNESCO-registered Lut Desert in the barren heartland of Iran during the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2019).

Hyrcanian forests to be equipped with technological support

TEHRAN – Hyrcanian forests will be equipped with modern technology devices such as camera traps, drones and fire-detection sensors, the deputy director of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has said.

Iran eyes to gain a UNESCO tag for its historical castles, fortresses

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has said the country is developing a dossier for its historical castles and fortresses for a possible inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Iran’s Hyrcanian Forest named UNESCO World Heritage site

UNESCO on Friday designated Iran’s vast Hyrcanian Forest as a World Heritage site, making it the second such Iranian natural site after Lut Desert, which was granted the tag in 2016.

Iran makes bids for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage registration

TEHRAN – Iran has submitted five separate dossiers to the UNESCO for possible inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Why you must visit Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

When it comes to Iran, many people have in mind the mystic splendors of Persepolis, its most famous historical site. Indeed, with no less than 23 sites listed by UNESCO, Iran has demonstrated the attractivity of its heritage. They are a showcase of the great history and creativity of Persia, along with stunning natural sites.

UNESCO-tagged hydraulic ensemble unaffected by flooding

TEHRAN-- Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, a UNESCO-registered ensemble in southwest Iran which is known as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’, has not been affected by flash floods and heavy rainfall that stroke almost all of the country in the past weeks. 

Eco-lodges in Golestan province more than doubles in H1

TEHRAN – The number of eco-lodges across the northern province of Golestan has more than doubled during the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) from a year earlier.

Iran seeking UNESCO inscription for Hyrcanian Forest

TEHRAN — Iran is seeking to inscribe Hyrcanian Forest (also known as Caspian Forest), in northern parts of the country, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Lut Desert’s World Heritage base renovated

TEHRAN – A refurbishment project has been recently completed on the World Heritage base of Iran’s UNESCO-registered Lut Desert in a bid to encourage tourism, IRNA reported.

Iran pursues World Heritage listing for prehistoric Hasanlu

TEHRAN – Iran’s cultural heritage body is working on possible inscription of Hasanlu, a millennia-old archaeological site, on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

$12m channeled to restore 14th-century educational complex

TEHRAN – Some 50 billion rials (some $12 million) has been allocated to restore the ruins of Rab’-e Rashidi, a 14th-century educational complex in East Azarbaijan, northwest Iran.

Iran seeks World Heritage listing for Tabas Geopark

TEHRAN – Tabas Geopark authorities keep an eye on possible inscription of the vast geological region on the UNESCO World Heritage list, its director says.

Explore a microcosm of Sufism while traversing Iran

TEHRAN – Arrays of harmonious sun-scorched domes, well-preserved and richly-ornamented facades and interiors and, above all, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility have all made the Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble a must-see stopover for travelers to the city of Ardabil in northwest Iran. 

Iran seeks World Heritage listing for Rab’-e Rashidi

TEHRAN – Iran’s cultural heritage body keeps an eye on possible inscription of the ruins of Rab’-e Rashidi, an educational complex dating back to the 14th century, on the UNESCO World Heritage list by 2025.

Iranian horse-riding game, kamancheh arts win world heritage status

TEHRAN – Iran’s "Chogan, a horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytelling", won the UNESCO world heritage status on Thursday, while “the art of crafting and playing with Kamancheh” gained the tag jointly with Azerbaijan.

Centuries-old Indian offerings on show at Golestan Palace

TEHRAN – A collection of exquisite Indian offerings to monarchs and courtiers of Qajar era [1785 to 1925] is on display at the UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran.

Over 60 prehistoric tombs identified in Burnt City

TEHRAN – A total of 66 burial chambers have recently been unearthed in the Burnt City, a weighty UNESCO World Heritage site in southeast Iran.

Urgent restoration lifts threat to Achaemenid tomb

TEHRAN – A potential threat of physical harm to Xerxes the Great tomb has been lifted after an urgent restoration plan assured its safety measures.

Saint Stepanos hosts 2,500 foreign travelers in H1

TEHRAN – Some 2,500 foreign tourists visited the UNESCO-inscribed Saint Stepanos Monastery in northwest Iran during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2017).