TEHRAN - Hamedan has seen a surge in tourism, attracting over nine million visitors in the course of the past three years, said a local tourism official.

“Nine and half million tourists have visited the province’s places of interest in the last 36 months,” Mohsen Masoom-Alizadeh brought to light, speaking in a press conference on Sunday.

Additionally, more than one million overnight stays have been recorded during this period, the official highlighted.

Throughout the last three years, he added, the province welcomed 23,210 foreign tourists, and the number of accommodation beds increased from 4,070 to 4,604.

The official emphasized that recent Hegmataneh’s UNESCO registration is just the beginning of Hamedan’s tourism journey. Future plans include organizing festivals, inviting various individuals, especially foreign ambassadors, to promote Hamedan globally, Masoom-Alizadeh winded up.

Believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities, Hamedan dating its historical roots back to the 700 BC, brings to light how precious is the city to every tourist who wants to immerse themselves in the rich atmosphere of the area.

Sprawling on a high plain, the ancient city was built by the Medes, Assyrians, Persians, and Parthians. It may no longer be the legendary metropolis it once was, but it still boasts all the culture you’d expect from a location with such a long history.

It is perhaps best known as the location of the Tomb of Avicenna, which commemorates and celebrates the life of the Islamic world’s most revered scientist. The Ali Sadr Cave and the inscriptions of the Ganjnameh, which were created by the Darius and Xerxes rulers of ancient Persia, are two more amazing sights to see.

Hamedan, also known as Ecbatana (better known as Hegmataneh in Iran) in classical times, was once one of the most important cities in the ancient world. A pitiful few artifact from antiquity still exist, but significant areas of the city center are dedicated to excavations, and there are a few historical oddities scattered about.

With 1,800 historical and natural attractions, more than 1000 of which are registered as national heritage, Hamedan stands out as a prime destination for tourism.

XF/AM