Esfahak, symbol of rural sustainable development

TEHRAN— Esfahak, recognized as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism, is symbol of cultural heritage and rural sustainable development, said South Khorasan Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department Seyyed Ahmad Barabadi.

Aras Free Zone Organization joins UN Tourism as new member

TEHRAN — The Aras Free Zone Organization has been officially accepted as a member of UN Tourism during the organization’s 26th General Assembly, which was recently held Riyadh, Iranian official said.

Iran seeks UNESCO recognition for 17 historic mosques showcasing ‘Persian Mosque’ legacy

TEHRAN – Iran has placed 17 of its most iconic mosques on UNESCO’s Tentative List under the collective title “Persian Mosque,” paving the way for a possible future inscription on the World Heritage List.

Salehi-Amiri meets new UN Tourism Secretary-General

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri has met with the new UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais on the sidelines of the UN body’s 26th general assembly, which officially opened in Riyadh on Sunday.

Iran welcomes further tourism cooperation with India

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri met with Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the sidelines of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh on Monday to discuss expanding tourism cooperation and strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

Iran proposes AI-based global tourism innovation network at UN Tourism assembly

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri on Sunday proposed the establishment of a global tourism innovation network based on artificial intelligence during the 26th General Assembly of the UN Tourism in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Hani Rastegaran

Qaleh Bala Village: a model of solidarity, creativity, and local development

TEHRAN - Qaleh Bala, a village nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Shahvar where the dry expanse of the desert blends into the wind‑shaped hills of the Kharturan buffer zone, has become one of the most remarkable examples of community‑based rural development in Iran. Its people, who have long struggled with drought, isolation, and lack of infrastructure, have relied on social cohesion and a series of small yet persistent innovations to transform what was once a depopulating settlement into a destination for community‑led ecotourism.

Three Iranian villages named among world’s Best Tourism Villages by UN

TEHRAN – The UN Tourism on Friday recognized three Iranian villages among the world’s 52 best tourism villages for 2025, praising their rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and commitment to sustainable tourism.

Tourism minister invites Malaysian counterpart to visit Tehran

TEHRAN – Iran has extended an official invitation to Malaysia’s tourism minister, Tiong King Sing, to visit Tehran as part of efforts to strengthen tourism, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations.

Iran orders reopening of all museums and heritage sites after wartime closure

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry has ordered the reopening of all museums, historical palaces, and archaeological sites across the country, following months of closure after the 12-day war with Israel.

Shalbafian: Iran ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism

TEHRAN—Iran is ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism, said Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, a senior official of Tourism Ministry.

Rural literary tourism route launched in Kandelous, northern Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has inaugurated a rural literary tourism route in the village of Kandelous in northern Mazandaran province, linking local folklore with cultural and ecological tourism, officials said.

Global tourism rises 5% in first half of 2025, UN Tourism says

TEHRAN – International tourist arrivals across the globe grew 5% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 4%, according to UN Tourism.

Iran to host debut tourism expo focused on children and teens

TEHRAN – Iran will host its first festival and exhibition on children and youth tourism in Tehran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Tehran launches China-focused tourism marketing course with UN support

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has launched an online training program on tourism marketing aimed at attracting Chinese visitors, with support from the UN Tourism (United Nations World Tourism Organization), an official said on Thursday.

Iran among world’s best-performing destinations in Q1, deputy minister

TEHRAN—The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in its latest report in social media, named Iran among top countries in terms of performance in tourism sector during the first quarter of 2025, said the deputy tourism minister, Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpei, in a meeting of policymaking council of VisitIran website which was held at Persian Gulf Hall of Tourism Ministry in July 15 with participation of private and state sectors.

Tehran urban tourism forum postponed amid regional tensions

TEHRAN – An international forum on urban tourism, originally set to take place in Tehran on June 24–25, has been officially postponed due to escalating regional tensions following Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this month.

Esfahak village gains UNESCO research chair for earth architecture

TEHRAN - The village of Esfahak in South Khorasan province has been awarded one of UNESCO’s 34 prestigious research chairs, marking an achievement for the local and national cultural heritage and scientific communities.

Shaikha Al Nowais elected as secretary-general of UN Tourism

TEHRAN – In a landmark decision on Friday, the Executive Council of UN Tourism elected Shaikha Al Nowais of the United Arab Emirates as its next secretary-general for the 2026–2029 term.

Tehran to host UN Tourism’s forum on urban tourism

Tehran, Iran – The UN Tourism, in collaboration with Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, will host the UN Tourism Global Forum on Urban Tourism in Tehran from June 24 to 25.

By Afshin Majlesi

Reviving roots: a new chapter in Iran’s rural tourism

KERMAN - On May 21, the first-ever national celebration of ecolodges brought together some 600 ecolodge managers, travel insiders, and media personnel from across the country.

Kandelous village in northern Iran implements accessible tourism measures

TEHRAN - Kandelous village in Mazandaran province has become one of Iran’s pioneering rural destinations to successfully implement “accessible tourism” initiatives, according to Mehdi Es’haqi, the deputy provincial tourism chief.

Mohseni-Bandpei calls on UN Tourism to help show a clear image of Iran

TEHRAN—Iran’s deputy minister of tourism has urged fighting against Iranophobia and giving a true image of the country, as he referred to the recent vote that the Islamic Republic gained for membership in the administrative council of the UN Tourism.