TELHAN – The 4th International Route Desert Tourism Conference will be a unique opportunity to showcase the tourism and investment capabilities of one of the hottest spots on the planet, said Seyyed Ahmad Balabadi, Director of South Khorasan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Authority.
“This international event will be held on November 12-13 at Birjand University and tourist destinations in Nebandan District in the presence of academics, researchers, local and foreign investors, and government officials,” Valabadi said on Saturday, addressing the fifth meeting of the conference organizing committee.
Touching on the goals of the conference, he said that this scientific and professional event will examine tourism and investment opportunities and capacities in the Luto Desert.
He pointed out that on the second day, the participants will visit the Rut Desert, the Rig Yaran (sand dune complex) in Nevandan, the village of De Salm, and on the second day they will visit the region’s palm forests, experiencing first-hand the nature and tourist attractions of this world-class region.
Highlighting the special status of Rut, he said: “The Rut desert is the first Iranian natural site to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is not only the hottest place on earth, but also has the highest sand dunes in the world. Organizing this conference will be a platform to showcase these unique capabilities and attract investors to the desert-based tourism sector.”
Valabadi added that the event will be attended by more than 200 guests from home and abroad. “Among the special invitees to the conference are the Secretary-General of UNESCO, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Science, and the governors of Khorasan Razavi, Sistan-Baluchestan and Kerman provinces.”
Calling on people, investors, media personnel and residents of Nebandan County, Tabas County and De Salm Village to help host the guests, he said: “We hope that by holding this conference every two years, an effective flow will be formed in the field of desert tourism at the domestic and international level, and the soil will be prepared to attract more investors.”
Valabadi said the estimated cost of holding the upcoming conference is about 45 billion rials ($45,000).
KD