TEHRAN – In a bid to boost tourism infrastructure, Iran’s West Azarbaijan province has allocated an investment of 65 trillion rials (some $130 million) for the execution of 50 tourism projects, the provincial tourism chief said on Tuesday.

Morteza Safari highlighted that the ongoing projects include the construction of 11 hotels, eco-lodge accommodations, traditional dining establishments, and recreational and tourist complexes, IRIB reported.

The official noted that these initiatives aim to strengthen the tourism infrastructure in the province, offering a diverse range of facilities for visitors.

Emphasizing the priority placed on the development and enhancement of tourism infrastructure, Safari stated that creating accommodations and recreational facilities is a key focus to increase the duration of tourists’ stays at historical sites.

He elaborated further, saying, “To promote tourism development and provide essential recreational centers for tourists, plans include the establishment of recreational and tourist complexes, amusement parks, prestigious museums, and suitable markets for visitors to benefit from.”

West Azarbaijan province, whose capital and largest city is Urmia, is bordered by Turkey, Iraq, and Azarbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as well as the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Zanjan and Kurdistan.

Permanent settlements were established in the province as early as the 6th millennium BC as excavations at sites such as Tepe Hasanlu, yielded a famous golden vase of the same name in 1958.

AFM