TEHRAN – Iran’s Aras Free Zone, listed on the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, has welcomed some three million travelers during the current Iranian year (started in March 2023).

An official with the organization, speaking to IRNA, disclosed that from the beginning of the current year, 2,808,000 entries were recorded within the Aras Free Zone, marking a substantial rise from the 1,621,000 entries during the corresponding period a year earlier.

Mohsen Mohammadzadeh highlighted the surge in railway travel from Tabriz to Jolfa, with 110,000 individuals traveling by train, compared to 89,000 during the previous year.

He also pointed to Jolfa's tourism potential in the Aras Free Zone, emphasizing its historical significance as a hub of commerce and market activity.

The official further noted the presence of various centers offering goods, highlighting shopping tourism as a significant draw in the region.

Mohammadzadeh outlined the expansion of accommodation facilities in Jolfa, with the number of hotels increasing from just one one-star hotel fifteen years ago to 11 hotels today, all prepared to host guests, with further expansion plans underway.

Regarding future developments, Mohammadzadeh mentioned the plans to attract private investment for large-scale projects in the area, such as establishing tourism facilities for the basin of the newly constructed dam of Khoda-Afarin.

He also announced the forthcoming establishment of Aras Touristic Island, covering 27 hectares along the Aras River.

Mohammadzadeh expressed optimism about the economic benefits of these initiatives, stating that they would significantly contribute to the province's revenue while harnessing the natural resources of the Aras River.

According to statistics revealed by related officials, during the previous Nowruz holidays, nearly accommodations for 60,000 tourists were recorded in the Aras Free Trade Zone, which works as a testimony to the importance of planning to host tourists.

Aras Geopark covers an area of about 1,670 square kilometers and stretches across the entire Jolfa County. Here, the Aras River forms the northern boundary of the Geopark and serves as the dividing line between Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

In addition to the wealth of an intangible heritage that includes local traditions, the property is home to several notable cultural treasures. These include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Stepanos Monastery, which testifies to the region's historical and religious importance.

Moreover, the geopark is home to national monuments such as the Khajeh-Nazar Caravanserai, the Historical Bath, the Historical Duzal Tower, the Zia-ol-Molk Bridge, and the Choopan Church, all of which represent iconic elements of the region's cultural heritage.