TEHRAN – In preparation for the upcoming Persian New Year (Nowruz) holidays, Ilam’s director-general of tourism has announced the readiness of 264 accommodation centers with a total capacity of 5,331 guests to host travelers and tourists around the clock.

During a meeting, held to coordinate Nowruz travels, Farzad Sharifi emphasized the recognition of Ilam as an emerging province in the realm of tourism. The official further outlined that the Nowruz travel plans in Ilam will begin on March 13 ( the 23rd  day of the Iranian month of Esfand).

“Considering the overlap of Nowruz with the holy month of Ramadan, special programs have been arranged for the holidaymakers,” Sharifi noted.

He also highlighted; that considering the experience from the previous year, the necessary plans have been made to accommodate travelers and tourists during the period.

He further detailed the readiness of 264 facilities, underscoring that hotels, eco-lodges, guesthouses, traveler's houses, traditional restaurants, and tourism complexes are set to host tourists.

Pointing to the planned schedule, Sharifi declared that entertaining Nowruz events, starting from March 20 until March 28, would be held across the province.

Ilam province witnessed a notable growth in the number of travelers during the current year, reaching 203,914 individuals.

According to the statistics revealed by provincial officials, 1,496,325 visitations to tourist spots have been registered during the current solar year.

Ilam is located on the foothills of the Zagros Mountains in the western region of Iran. Unlike The north and northwest parts of this province, which are mountainous, the west and southwest are flat. It is a suitable place for nomad life since the geographical conditions are favorable for summer and winter relocation.

The common handicrafts of this province include carpet, rug, drugget, felt, and coarse blanket weaving. The majority of the people in Ilam are Kurds, Laks, and Lurs. They speak in Laki, Kurdish, and Luri. Based on the archeological excavations, the civilization of this province dates back to the New Stone Age circa 8000 BC.

The land which is called Ilam now was a part of the ancient Elamite civilization that was formed circa 3000 BC and was destroyed by Assyrian King Ashurbanipal in 640 BC.

Elam was an ancient pre-Iranian civilization centered in the far west and southwest of what is now modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of what is now Khuzestan and Ilam provinces as well as a small part of southern Iraq.