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2025-07-12 17:36
By Afshin Majlesi
A journey beyond the misconceptions
TEHRAN - For those who dare to look beyond the headlines, Iran unveils a spectacular array of treasures. From the ancient ruins of Persepolis, once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, to the winding alleyways and wind towers of Yazd, a UNESCO-listed desert city, the country is a living museum.
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2025-07-09 16:40
By Afshin Majlesi
Cultural heritage is a voice against hostile narratives, Iran tourism minister says
TEHRAN – In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, along with his deputies, addressed the ministry’s role in shaping cultural resilience during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.
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2025-06-25 19:54
By Afshin Majlesi
West Azarbaijan: a journey through history, nature, and diversity
URMIA – Tourists arriving in West Azarbaijan province are immediately drawn into a world where every hill and ancient ruin narrates a story of past empires and cultural exchanges.
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2025-06-14 19:48
By Afshin Majlesi
Shams Tabrizi mausoleum gets major boost with new funding
KHOY, West Azarbaijan province – The Iranian government has allocated 30 trillion rials (approximately $375,000) to advance the long-delayed construction of the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi, the famed Sufi mystic and spiritual mentor of the celebrated Persian poet Rumi.
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2025-06-06 17:26
By Afshin Majlesi
Soheili village: a model of sustainable tourism in southern Iran
QESHM ISLAND - As a journalist focused on tourism and cultural heritage, my recent journey to Soheili village, located on the sun-kissed Qeshm Island in southern Iran, felt less like a reporting mission and more like uncovering a hidden gem with astonishing potential.
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2025-06-04 13:14
By Afshin Majlesi
Minister outlines visa-free travel agreements, cultural initiatives, and infrastructure plans
TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, unveiled a series of major developments in regional tourism cooperation, heritage protection, and tourism infrastructure during a press conference held on Tuesday at the ministry headquarters in Tehran.
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2025-05-27 17:58
By Afshin Majlesi
Uzbek ambassador highlights country’s expanding tourism sector in Tehran ceremony
TEHRAN – Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Fariddin Nasriev, underscored his country’s growing tourism appeal during a cultural and diplomatic gathering held Monday evening at the ambassador's residence in Tehran.
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2025-05-24 17:29
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.
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2025-05-19 16:55
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran opens its first specialized college for classic car restoration
TEHRAN - In a landmark development for cultural heritage and technical education in Iran, the country’s first specialized college dedicated to the restoration of classic cars was officially inaugurated on Monday.
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2025-05-16 17:35
Ferdowsi remembered as guardian of Persian language
TEHRAN — The Iranology Foundation hosted a ceremony on Wednesday evening to mark Ferdowsi Day, gathering scholars, cultural experts, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate the enduring legacy of Persian language and literature.
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2025-05-13 16:52
By Afshin Majlesi
Discover Shurgol wetland: a sanctuary for birds, wildlife, and nature lovers
TEHRAN – Shurgol wetland in northwest Iran is a favored destination for nature lovers and eco-tourists due to its rich biodiversity and unique landscapes.
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2025-05-09 17:21
By Afshin Majlesi
Preserving the past, building the future: Kandelous and the path to sustainable tourism
KANDELOUS (Mazandaran province) – Nestled in the heart of Iran’s Alborz mountain range and just 35 kilometers from the Caspian Sea, the ancient village of Kandelous offers an authentic rural escape for those in search of tradition, tranquility, and natural beauty.
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2025-05-05 18:26
By Afshin Majlesi
Legend of ‘Mina and Panther’ chosen as global brand for Kandelous village
TEHRAN – The local legend of “Mina and the Panther” has been selected as a symbolic brand for Kandelous, a scenic village nestled at the foot of the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran.
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2025-04-30 17:56
By Afshin Majlesi
Persian Gulf National Day: a celebration of history, culture, and nature
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2025-04-18 17:18
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran celebrates Intl. Day for Monuments and Sites amid rich cultural legacy
TEHRAN - Each year on April 18, many countries across the globe celebrate the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS) — a date dedicated to recognizing and protecting the cultural treasures that connect us to the past.
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2025-04-06 18:09
By Afshin Majlesi
Big data aids Iran’s Nowruz travel tracking, recording over 36 million trips
TEHRAN - More than 36 million domestic trips were made across Iran during the Nowruz holidays this year, according to final statistics released at a session of the Traveling Services Coordination Headquarters, chaired by Deputy Minister of Tourism Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey on Sunday.
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2025-03-17 17:36
By Afshin Majlesi
Nowruz in Tehran embraces tranquility amidst urban splendor
TEHRAN - As Nowruz approaches, Tehran’s hustle and bustle gives way to serene tranquility, offering visitors a unique perspective on the Iranian capital.
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2025-03-16 16:21
By Afshin Majlesi
All artifacts in Dafineh Museum Group re-organized and catalogued
TEHRAN - The Dafineh Museum Group, managed under the Mostazafan Foundation, has completed a re-organization, authentication, classification, and documentation of all its historical artifacts.
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2025-03-15 19:52
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran welcomes Nowruz, a season of renewal
With the countdown to Nowruz underway, Iran is buzzing with preparations for one of the most significant and cherished celebrations in Iranian culture. Millions plan to travel across the country or beyond to historical sites, natural landscapes, and family homes, while others will remain in their hometowns to observe traditional family gatherings.
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2025-03-01 18:48
By Afshin Majlesi
New museums dedicated to automobiles, textiles, and hunting inaugurated across Iran
TEHRAN – On Saturday, Iran celebrated the opening of three new museums dedicated to automotive history, traditional textiles, and hunting culture.
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2025-02-26 18:29
Global tour operators explore Isfahan Healthcare City
ISFAHAN - On the second day of their visit to Isfahan, a group of 100 tour operators from 25 countries explored various sections of the Isfahan Healthcare City, including its state-of-the-art dental facilities and advanced nuclear medicine department.
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2025-02-25 18:11
By Afshin Majlesi
Tour operators express surprise over the real image of Iran
ISFAHAN - In a striking revelation that counters long-standing negative perceptions, 100 international tour operators from 25 countries recently visited Iran’s ancient city of Isfahan and expressed their astonishment at the reality they encountered.
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2025-02-22 16:34
By Afshin Majlesi
Day three: foreign tour operators experience the majesty of Varzaneh Desert
ISFAHAN- On Friday, after two and a half unforgettable days exploring the historical wonders of Isfahan, it was time for the 100 tour operators from 25 countries to embark on a new adventure: a journey to the captivating Varzaneh Desert.
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2025-02-15 18:16
By Afshin Majlesi
Government spokeswoman highlights tourism and cultural heritage preservation
TEHRAN - Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokeswoman for the government, emphasized the administration’s commitment to tourism development and cultural heritage preservation during her visit to the 18th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition on Thursday.
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2025-02-12 18:51
By Afshin Majlesi
Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz showcase synergy at Tehran tourism fair
TEHRAN - For the first time, a joint pavilion representing Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz has been set up at the current Tehran tourism fair to highlight a synergy among these three ancient cities.
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2025-02-08 18:24
By Afshin Majlesi
Tehran tourism fair aims to counter Iranophobia, help boost economy
TEHRAN – Deputy Tourism Minister Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey has announced that the 18th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition will be inaugurated by President Masoud Pezeshkian and will take place from February 11 to 14. He emphasized that strengthening tourism relations is the most effective way to counter Iranophobia.
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2025-02-07 20:26
By Afshin Majlesi
Deyr-e Gachin: the mother of Iran’s caravanserais
TEHRAN – Situated 80 kilometers northeast of Qom, the caravanserai of Deyr-e Gachin is widely known as the “Mother of Iranian Caravanserais”. The impressive monument, strategically positioned along the historic Silk Roads and the ancient Ray-to-Qom route, now lies within the vast expanse of Kavir National Park.
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2025-01-24 18:06
By Afshin Majlesi
Yazd’s Janoub factory: from industrial powerhouse to museum of traditional textiles
YAZD - The Janoub Spinning and Weaving Factory, a 70-year-old landmark in Yazd, is set to undergo a remarkable transformation.
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2025-01-12 17:47
By Afshin Majlesi
Discover Museum of Light and Illumination in UNESCO-listed Yazd
The Museum of Light and Illunimation, located in the historic city of Yazd, stands as a cultural and architectural masterpiece.
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2025-01-04 17:31
By Afshin Majlesi
Lar: a journey through time and culture
Lar is a city where history whispers through its traditional bazaars, centuries-old caravanserais, mosques, ancient ramparts, bizarre-shaped cisterns, and above all, the warm hospitality of its residents. The city’s amalgam of new and old constructions creates a unique rhythm that makes every corner worth discovering.