TEHRAN - Kordestan province emerged as a hotspot for domestic travelers during the recent Persian New Year holidays and days beyond, attracting over three million travelers.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, Kordestan's director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts shared extensive insights into the province's remarkable tourism achievements during a month-long period​, covering the Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Mansour Mehrzad revealed that Kordestan emerged as the third most sought-after tourist destination province across the country, having warmly welcomed over 3,500,000 travelers.

“During the Nowruz festivities, spanning from March 15 to April 14, Kordestan experienced a notable surge in tourist arrivals,” Mehrzad noted, “drawn by its diverse array of cultural and natural attractions.”

Despite the challenges posed by limited accommodation capacity, Kordestan successfully hosted 615,000 visitors across various lodging options, according to the director-general.

Mehrzad further detailed the figure, stating that the province boasts approximately 5,500 hotel and non-hotel beds, supplemented by emergency accommodation services that cater to an additional 41,000 individuals.

Highlighting Kordestan's commitment to tourism development, Mehrzad emphasized ongoing efforts to attract investment, particularly in the accommodation sector.

Kordestan has made significant strides in enhancing its tourism infrastructure, positioning itself as one of the leading provinces in terms of tourism facilities and services, the official added.

He also claimed that Kordestan, compared to its neighboring provinces, has managed to mitigate the effects of the reduction in travelers due to weather warnings.

“Additionally, this reduction was compensated for by increased traffic during Eid al-Fitr holidays,” Mehrzad stated.

The director-general also revealed that during the course of the previous year, Kordestan allocated 180 billion rials (about $300,000) towards the restoration and preservation of its rich historical heritage.

“This investment has yielded tangible results,” the official added, “with several historical sites undergoing extensive renovation, contributing to the preservation of Kordestan's cultural legacy.”

The official continued by stating that in the past year, three new historical sites were also nationally registered in Kordestan.

 He added, “This province has many historical artifacts, and we are currently making every effort for them to be registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list.”

Moreover, the official underscored the significance of cultural events in promoting the province's identity and heritage.

Five cultural events, including Pir-e Shalyar traditional wedding ceremony, komsay festival, Palangan, and Sanandaj’s Nowruz, and Shiyan’s strawberry festival, were nationally recognized last year, showcasing Kordestan's vibrant cultural tapestry, the official stated.

“Kordestan was recognized as the second province in the country in terms of hosting cultural events last year,” Mehrzad noted in his concluding remarks, “and this trend will continue in the current year as well.”