TEHRAN –Noruz travelers made some 7.6 million overnight stays in the southwestern Bushehr province during the two-week Persian new year holidays, the provincial tourism chief has said.

In comparison with the same period last year, the figure shows a 15 percent decrease, Esmaeil Sajjadi-Manesh said on Tuesday.

However, it is expected that the number of tourists arriving in the province will increase during the holidays in the coming weeks, the official added.

With over 6,000 years of history and significant monuments from the Elamite, Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid eras, Bushehr province is one of Iran’s most important historical centers.

Besides its cultural heritage, beautiful beaches and lush palm groves make it an attractive destination for world travelers.

The historical and architectural monuments of Bushehr include Islamic buildings like mosques and praying centers, mansions, old towers, castles, as well as gardens.

When it comes to cultural attractions, there are many historical mounds in Bushehr including Tall-e Khandaq with Sassanid architectural style, Tall-e Marv located near an Achaemenid Palace, and Qajar era Malek al-Tojar Mansion. The Qajar-era Kazeruni Mansion, which has been inscribed on the World Heritage List, is another attraction that world travelers love to see among various ancient sites.

ABU/AM