TEHRAN- Six tourism projects with a total investment of 2 trillion rials (about $47 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) are being implemented in Meshginshahr, northwestern Ardebil province.

Imanali Imani, head of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Meshginshahr, said: "Last year, more than 50 requests for tourism projects in this city were reviewed and investment cases were filed in the form of rural and urban facilities."

In July 2020, provincial tourism chief Nader Fallahi noted that Ardebil can be named the province of suspension bridges, pointing to Meshginshahr suspension bridge and Hir curved glass suspension bridge as well as Azna suspension bridge, which is under construction and will come on stream in June 2021.

Hir curved glass suspension bridge is the first of its kind in the world. Measuring 220 meters in length, the bridge’s all-glass parts and metal cables have been constructed by domestic engineers using high-quality materials.

Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said in February that Ardebil province has immense potential to become the next tourism hub of the country. 

The development of infrastructures, which is currently taking place in Ardebil, could facilitate this region’s transformation into a new tourism hub, IRNA quoted Mounesan as saying.

The implementation of tourism-related projects worth 40 trillion rials ($952 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) shows the decisive decision of the province’s tourism officials for the development in this field, he explained. 

The completion of the mentioned projects will add capacity to the tourism sector of the country, the minister noted. 

He also expressed hope that the province would become a duly deserving host of the 2023 Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) tourism capital program. 

Last April tourism authorities of the province announced that they have developed extensive plans to draw more tourists during the winter season to the province and make it the winter tourism hub of the country.

In December 2019, provincial tourism chief Nader Fallahi announced that the objective to launch tourism projects is to provide tourists from all over the world and domestic tourists as well with the opportunity to use these facilities and select Ardebil as their prime destination.

Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, Ardebil is well-known for having lush natural beauties, hospitable people, and its silk and carpet trade tradition. It is also home to the UNESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble.

The province is freezing in winter and mild in summer, attracting thousands every year. The capital city of Ardebil is usually recorded as one of the coldest cities in the country in winter.