By Afshin Majlesi

Age-old Noruz traditions altered by coronavirus in Iran

Iranians experienced totally-changed traditions during this Noruz (the two-week New Year holidays started March 20) in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has crippled the tourism and hospitality industries worldwide.

UNWTO calls for action to help virus-hit tourism

TEHRAN – The UNITED Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recently released a set of recommendations, calling for urgent and strong support to help the global tourism sector in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has crippled traveling and jeopardized related jobs all over the globe.

No excuses, no exceptions: UNWTO urges travelers to care others amid corona threat

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organization has urged travelers to exercise more responsibly by both caring about themselves and others amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Interactive virtual tours ready to respond coronavirus crisis in Iran

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian startups are offering free interactive virtual tours across the country as its tourism, like many other countries, has gone into partial or complete lock down over the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Afshin Majlesi

New year travels plunge amid virus outbreak

For many Iranians, the new year’s eve conjures up memories of holidays and traveling along dreamy beaches, silky warm seas, lush sceneries, and endless sunshine.

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’.

Bagh-e Narenjestan: One of the smallest yet most visited gardens of Shiraz 

TEHRAN - Named after the bitter oranges that line the central courtyard, Bagh-e Narenjestan is one of the brilliantly manicured gardens of Shiraz. Bitter oranges are “Narenj” in Persian.

Imam Mosque: A grand, impressive jewel of Isfahan 

TEHRAN – At the southern end of Isfahan’s main square stands the big, grand and impressive Imam Mosque, which is not only impressive because of its sheer size and incredible decorations, but also helps to get a good impression of the needs and challenges of always on-going restoration works.

Italy extends visa for Iranians up to 60 days

TEHRAN – The Italian government has agreed to significantly extend short-term visas for visiting Iranians, saying they will have “no problem” to stay up to 60 days more after their visa expiration dates, Tehran’s embassy in Rome has said, IRNA reported.

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 calls off Noruz celebrations amid coronavirus threat

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan announced on Tuesday that no official celebrations or public gatherings, even the pre-scheduled ones, will be held during the new year Noruz holidays (starting March 20 this year) in a bid to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Tehran’s major museums open during Noruz despite corona fear

TEHRAN – Tehran’s major museums and historical places will be open during Noruz (Iranian new year holidays, starting March 21) despite the outbreak of coronavirus.

A glimpse of The Met’s excavations at Neyshabur once home to many Iranian scholars, traders and artisans

TEHRAN – Beginning in 1935, a team from the Department of Near Eastern Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially “The Met”, excavated for several seasons at Neyshabur (Nishapur), which is one of flourishing towns of medieval times now situated northeast of modern Iran.

Qasr-e Khorshid: once temporary home to the ‘Napoleon of Iran’

TEHRAN – Qasr-e Khorshid (literally ‘the Sun Palace’), an 18th-century iconic monument in northeast Iran, was once a royal resident for Nader Shah of Persia (1688–1747), often called the “Napoleon of Iran,” who created an empire that stretched from northern India to the Caucasus Mountains.

Iran limits intercity travel to prevent coronavirus spread

TEHRAN – Iran has limited travel between its major cities in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Tourism minister asks people to delay travels in face of coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister has asked people to postpone or reschedule tours so as to help the tourism industry deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Susa, once capital of Elamite, Achaemenid empires

TEHRAN – Now sprawling in the southwest of modern Iran, Susa is one of the oldest yet magnificent cities in the world.

Here’s what IKAC doing to shield travelers from the coronavirus

TEHRAN – Imam Khomeini Airport City (IKAC), which embraces the vast Imam Khomeini International Airport, has tightened precautionary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, since the past couple of weeks.

By Afshin Majlesi

Rig-e Jenn: An extraordinary landscape named after elves!

TEHRAN – Eastern Iran is dominated by vast deserts known worldwide for having harsh sun-scorched landscapes, parts of which more attractive for adrenaline chasers.

By Afshin Majlesi

Northwest Iran: A verdant realm of ancient churches & monasteries

TEHRAN - To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian and Muslim.

By Afshin Majlesi

Virus worries forces cancelation of travel fairs

TEHRAN – Dozens of travel fairs and conferences have so far been postponed worldwide due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, disrupting deals worth billions of dollars.

COVID-19 to cost world tourism no less than $22 billion: WTTC

TEHRAN – The global outbreak of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, will cost world tourism at least $22 billion owing to a drop in spending by Chinese tourists, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Director said on Thursday.

Visit modem village where all structures are made of timber

Serenely sprawling in a well-watered and fertile plain at the southern foot of the Binalud Mountains, Choobin (“Wooden”) village is a special tourist destination situated near Neyshabur, northeast Iran.

Rare rhytons recovered in northeast Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian police have recovered two rare rhytons, which are estimated to date from Sassanid era (224–651). 

Iran-Turkmenistan border crossing to host Noruz celebration

TEHRAN – Iran and Turkmenistan are scheduled to celebrate Noruz, the Persian New Year traditions shared between the two nations, during a joint event at their border crossing on March 27, CHTN reported.

History of human settlement in Iran’s Qumis may go far deeper than thought

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian archaeologist has said that the history of human settlement in Shahr-e Qumis may go far deeper in time from what previously excavations suggested decades ago.

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.

Dutch FM visits Isfahan, says ready to deepen tourism ties

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Stef Blok said on Friday that his country is willing to expand economic and tourism relations with Iran, particularly with Isfahan province.

Atashgah: A hillside Zoroastrian fire temple in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Though Iran is a Muslim-majority country, it is home to ancient Zoroastrian sites still retaining otherworldly charm.

Intl. rally completes Iran itinerary under slogans of justice and peace

TEHRAN - An estimated year-long rally called “Jai Jagat 2020”, carrying Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence, justice and peace, has completed its second leg of journey across Iran before it reaches Armenia on Thursday.