TEHRAN – Iran’s Bisheh, which is nominated for UN Tourism’s list of the best tourism villages, is set to host a special festival intended to promote its tourist appeal for nature lovers.

The event named “River and Rail” is scheduled for April 18, Lorestan province’s tourism chief said on Wednesday.

“Last year, despite submitting the necessary documents for the global registration of Bisheh, only Kandovan was successfully registered due to the time constraints,” the official noted.

Speaking at a local meeting dedicated to tourism, Ata Hasanpour announced forming a committee to organize the festival with an eye toward Bisheh’s global registration, given its inclusion on the World’s Best Villages list.

Bisheh is situated on the outskirts of the national railway from Tehran to the south, adjacent to a captivating waterfall, approximately 70 kilometers from Khorramabad. The location’s description brings to light the name “River and Rail” for the upcoming event.

Pointing to the necessity of providing infrastructure, safety, and hygiene regarding a potential UN label, he emphasized prioritizing measures as also the countdown has started to welcome Nowruz (Persian New Year) holidaymakers.

The official outlined the need for installing bilingual Persian and English guide signs along the routes to the village.

Mentioning the significance of preserving various sources within the village, Hasanpour underscored the pivotal rule of coordination between related organizations.

Lorestan’ Khorram Abad Valley seeks UNESCO label

Hasanpour added that efforts are underway to facilitate the global registration process for the Khorram Abad Valley which was submitted to UNESCO on February 1.

Furthermore, the official discussed the potential of five ancient caves, one of them boasting roots back to 54000 years, which sheds light on their capacity to be introduced at an international level.

Regarding the time limitation, he highlighted that a UNESCO assessor is expected to arrive in the province before June 21, which is our possible opportunity to showcase the potential within the province.

Lorestan boasts 5000 historical sites and monuments along with 80 natural tourist attractions, of which 2,500 are already recorded on the national heritage list. The village's strategic location, combined with its rich historical and natural treasures, makes it a compelling destination for travelers exploring the beauty of the region.

It’s noteworthy that last July, Iran nominated eight rural villages comprising Kandovan in East Azarbaijan province, Meymand in Kerman, Soheili in Hormozgan, Qasemabad in Gilan, Kandelus in Mazandaran, Palangan in Kordestan, Abyaneh in Isfahan, and the village of Bisheh in Lorestan as final candidates for “Best Tourism Villages”.

Eventually, Kandovan village found its way onto the list of 54 best tourist villages announced by the World Tourism Organization.