TEHRAN – Qazvin’s tourism directorate has introduced a selection of 22 rural villages as its emerging destinations for rural tourism across the west-central Iranian province.

After rounds of assessments conducted by the provincial experts, 22 villages with tourism values have been shortlisted for rural tourism, the deputy provincial tourism chief said on Monday.

With these new selections, the number of Qazvin’s touristic villages reaches 29, the report said.

Home to 845 inhabited villages, the Qazvin region was once the capital of the mighty Persian Empire, under Safavids, from 1548 to 98. Moreover, the province is a major tourist destination with a wonderfully restored caravanserai-turned-arts precinct, some quirky museums, and a handful of decent eating options. For most travelers, Qazvin is also primarily the staging point for excursions to the famous castle of the Assassins and trekking in the sensational Alamut Valley.

Having a very diverse natural setting, Iran offers varied excursions to nature lovers. Sightseers may live with a nomad or rural family or enjoy an independent stay. The country is home to abundant historical mansions, caravanserais, bathhouses, madrasas, and other massive monuments, which can buttress its budding tourism and hospitality sectors if managed appropriately and refurbished properly.

The World Tourism Organization sees rural tourism as a type of activity in which the visitor’s experience is related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural lifestyle, culture, angling, and sightseeing. “We want to recognize the uniqueness of each village and showcase the best initiatives to make tourism a means for a better future in rural areas. As we restart tourism, we work to ensure that we leave no one - and no village- behind,” according to UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

AFM