TEHRAN - During the very first month of the current Iranian year, as per records, Mazandaran province welcomed over 18 million visitors hailing from across Iran, signaling a substantial boost in tourism.

The provincial director-general of tourism, speaking to IRNA, on Monday, revealed that Mazandaran saw over 18 million tourists in the past month, showing a significant uptick in tourism.

More than 18 million travelers have stayed in the province from March 16 until April 14, according to Hossein Izadi.

“As in previous years, the majority of visitors' stays in Mazandaran are concentrated in the western regions of the province,” the official noted, “attributed to the captivating nature of its mountains and the shores of the Caspian Sea in the area.”

Furthermore, Izadi pinpointed that in the course of the past month, there has been a growing inclination among travelers to stay in rural areas, with approximately 30% of visitors choosing to spend their time in these regions.

Providing comprehensive insight into rural tourism figures, the official mentioned that over eight million people visited the villages of the province, with more than five million staying overnight in these areas.

Izadi also noted the significant increase in vehicle traffic on Mazandaran's roads during this year's Nowruz holidays, with over 48 million vehicle movements recorded on the province's transportation arteries.

With vast expanses of verdant Hyrcanian forests, over 400 kilometers of coastline, and a pleasant climate, combined with the presence of numerous cultural and historical sites, Mazandaran has become a hub and destination for many travelers.

The province boasts 80 recognized national cultural heritage, including historical structures, customs, and cultures from various regions.

Goal of attracting two million foreign tourists per annum

Last September, Mazandaran’s governor general announced a development program to attract more foreign tourists, saying “We have set a goal to host two million foreign tourists per annum by the end of the current Iranian administration [of President Ebrahim Raisi].”

In terms of having diverse and numerous capacities in the historical, natural, and cultural fields, Mazandaran is the center of the presence of millions of travelers from within the country, but the fact that these capacities have remained unknown for potential foreign travelers, Seyyed Mahmoud Hosseinipour explained.