Tehran – Isfahan’s historic city has been officially designated by the Asian Tourism Capital (AMF) in 2025 by the Asian Mayor’s Forum (AMF), in recognition of its rich cultural heritage, vibrant tourism provision and active involvement in international urban cooperation.
The announcement came at a formal ceremony held on Sunday at the historic Bagh-e Zereshk Mansion in Isfahan. The event was attended by many local officials, international guests and members of the Asian Mayor’s Forum. At the ceremony, a commemorative statue was presented to the mayor marking the new title of Isfahan.
Isfahan Mayor Ali Kasemzadeh highlighted the city’s unique historic and urban fabric in his remarks. “Of the 24,000 hectares of Isfahan’s area, 1,600 hectares are made up of historical textures dating back to the Buyid, Seljuk and Safavid periods,” he said.
“In addition to its monuments, Isfahan has a living historic environment that stands out as a major destination for urban tourism.”
Qasemzadeh also pointed out that modern tourism extends beyond visiting monuments. “Today’s tourism includes a diverse range of sectors and we have to adapt to play an active role in all of them,” he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the mayor highlights several international events hosted by Isfahan, such as international films and painting festivals dedicated to children and young people, and describes them as important assets in expanding the city’s global tourism profile.
Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, secretary of the Asian Mayors Forum, also spoke at the event, noting that the forum includes more than 120 member cities. He praised the active cooperation between AMF and Isfahan’s local government over the past three years, bringing great progress in a variety of areas.
The ancient city of Isfahan, which also serves as the capital of the province, is at a crossroads of Iran’s north and east-west trade routes. It reached its peak between the 9th and 18th centuries. During the Safavid era, it became the capital of Iran under Shah Abbas the Great.
Isfahan once stood at a crossroads in Iran’s international trade and diplomacy, but now for good reason it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations. It is filled with many architectural wonders, including unparalleled Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, tree-lined paths and more. It is a city where you walk, get lost in a bazaar, a city where you can doze off in beautiful gardens and meet people.
The Persian proverb “Isfahan Nezuf e Jahan Asto” (Isfahan is half the world) reflects the cultural and historical prominence of the city.
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