TEHRAN — The “From Forest to Desert” project is a great opportunity for tourism development in Shahrood Governorate, Semnan Governorate, said Shahrood Governor Mohammad-Hassan Asafari.
In a meeting with the Director of Cultural Heritage Semnan, Mr. Asafari mentioned Shahrood’s unique tourism capabilities. “Shaharud’s ‘Forest to Desert’ tourism project is a very exceptional opportunity. Professional tour management and consistent planning should be implemented,” ISNA reported.
He explained that the Reza-Abad desert with its unique sand dunes, off-road features, camel riding and desert trekking, the Cha Jam route and Tug forest, the Sharud Trud route and its dunes and pristine landscape, the Hyrkanian World Heritage Site in Abru region, Mojen waterfalls and Kale Bara tourist village each represent serious opportunities in the fields of tourism, handicrafts and cultural heritage. Shahrood district needs special attention to turn the situation to its advantage.
Pointing out the diversity of tourism events in Shahrood, he said that weekly tourism festivals are held in the villages of Shahrood district, ranging from felt festivals to golden raven festivals and local rituals, and that this diversity reflects the region’s cultural richness and high potential.
He considered cultural heritage to be the original identity of the local population, adding: “Shahrud has nationally and even internationally recognized monuments, such as the Bayezid Bastami Collection, and it is our duty to protect this cultural heritage.”
Asafari added that every region in Semnan province has great and unique capabilities in the field of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, with Shahrood having a large share.
Governor Shahrood emphasized that Governor Shahrood’s office and the district administration are working towards the restoration of historical buildings, tourism development, strengthening of infrastructure, and flourishing of handicrafts, with sufficient interaction.
Jalal Tajik, Director-General of the Semnan Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, also highly appreciated Governor Shahroud’s special consideration, saying that the governor is interested and has a cooperative approach in the areas of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts.
He announced the inscription of Kare Bala Tourist Village as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the ministry’s most important priorities.
Meanwhile, Semnan Governor Mehdi Samimian announced the holding of a special Yalda Night program, the exhibition of handicrafts, the acceleration of the restoration of the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, and the holding of the Millennium Festival of the minaret of Jamek Mosque in Semnan.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the management staff of Semnan City, saying that to realize the programs currently being implemented, priority should be given to increasing the capacity of human resources in relevant fields so that the management and support processes can proceed more quickly.
Mr. Samimian further continued that a handicraft and souvenir exhibition will be held in Semnan County from December 8 to 16, which is considered a good opportunity to showcase Semnan’s artistic and cultural abilities.
Also, Mohammad Bahrami, a member of the board of directors of Imamzadeh Yahya (AS) Shrine in Semnan, said that religious tourism is one of the most active and frequently visited tourism types in Iran, and that Semnan province should benefit the most from the more than 20 million pilgrims and travelers who pass through the Semnan-Mashhad route annually.
He said the Imamzadeh Yahya (AS) shrine has valuable religious tourism capacity in the province and could become one of the important destinations for pilgrims along the Mashhad route.
He noted Semnan’s position on the country’s pilgrimage route, adding that Semnan province is located on the route between the Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and the Shrine of Hazrat Masmeh (SA), and this position creates special advantages for the development of religious tourism.
Bahrami said the shrine of Imamzad-e-Yahiya (AS) could become the fourth pilgrimage site in the country after the shrines of Imam Reza (AS), Hazrat Masmeh (SA) and Shah Cherag (AS) due to its antiquity, spiritual status and special position in the heart of the historical texture of Semnan.
He noted the privileged location of the holy site, saying that the shrine’s proximity to the Imam Mosque, Jamek Mosque, Semnan’s historic bazaar and other precious buildings is a unique advantage in attracting pilgrims and religious tourists.
KD