TEHRAN – Kurdestan’s tourism chief has said that since the beginning of the Nowruz holidays until now, more than six million tourists have entered the western Iranian province.

Mansour Mehrzad, speaking to Mehr News Agency, mentioned a 14% growth in overnight stays in the province compared to the same period last year.

He stated: “We need to establish committees to facilitate tourism and welcome guests to the province in the Nowruz of 1403 (which marks the Persian New Year).”

Mehrzad added that those committees will be in charge of transport, emergency services, public safety and city traffic coordination, accommodation and welfare, planning and statistics, roadside prayer rooms, and health services, market supervision and regulation, coordination with municipalities and rural districts, complaint resolution, health, environment, and cultural information and advertising.

“Satisfaction of travelers and tourists coming to the province is among the main objectives of his directorate,” the official said.

“Moreover, more than 50 guideposts have been installed by this department, in collaboration with the directorate of roads and transportation of the province, to introduce the prominent attractions of the province and announce distances to health services and roadside prayer rooms.”

The Kordestan province is home to towering mountains, wide valleys, and gushing waterfalls. It is a popular destination for mountaineers and nature lovers due to its abundance of river lakes, mineral springs, caves, and wildlife. It is also known for its varied, breathtaking natural beauty and rugged road bends.

For instance, Lake Zarivar can be found by continuing north. This supposedly lost paradise, which is close to the city of Marivan, is encircled by a dense forest and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Visitors may also head towards the rocky limestone Karaftu Cave, which is widely believed to have been underwater during the Cretaceous period millions of years ago.

The name Kordestan refers to the region’s principal inhabitants. After the Turkish invasion of Iran in the 11th century CE (Seljuk period), the name Kurdistan was applied to the region comprising the northwestern Zagros Mountains. It was during the reign of Abbas I the Great of Iran’s Safavid dynasty (1501–1736) that the Kurds rose to prominence, having been enlisted by Abbas I to help stem the attacks of the marauding Uzbeks from the east in the early 17th century.

AFM