TEHRAN – More than 36 million domestic travel across Iran took place this year during the Knowles holiday, according to final statistics released at the Travel Services Coordination Headquarters session, chaired by Tourism Minister Anuban Moseni Vanpei.
A total of 36,519,671 trips were recorded from March 15 to April 4, with 60,970,523 accommodations registered with official, semi-official and emergency accommodation, said Headquarters Director Seid Mostafa Fatemi. In particular, out of the numbers mentioned, 1.37 million lodging stays occurred at official lodging.
The states of Mazandaran, Gilan, Korasan Razabi, Tehran and Isfahan have seen the highest influx of tourists, with Mashhad, Shiraz, Tehran, Isfahan and Bandar Abbas ranked among the top visiting cities.
He highlighted that he used various metrics to calculate travel counts, including accommodation, fuel consumption, road traffic, waste generation, and mobile network data. He added that for the first time, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provided mobile phone data to track movement patterns, indicating a 2% increase in mobility compared to the previous year.
He also reported a 15% increase in school-based accommodations from the previous year (a total stay of 3.5 million nights) with 359,601 accommodations staying in religious locations under the supervision of the state’s donation and charitable agency.
Mohseni-Bandpey explained in his remarks that this year’s Nowruz Travel Coordination was “effective” and would praise the cooperation of various government ministries and agencies. He cited improved service quality and logistics coordination, noting that long fuel station queues have not been reported, and emerging destinations such as Ilam, Lorestan, North Khorasan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Kordestan and Alborz witnessed a noticeable increase in visits through strategic promotion campaigns.
The Deputy Minister has also announced plans to make the Travel Services Coordination Headquarters a permanent institution, developing a structured policy package and seeking greater authority on traffic, emergency situations and tourism-related issues.
Regarding public complaints, he has received over 301,000 calls by the surveillance system and there have been no significant reports of unauthorized accommodation prices hikes, except for a few free zones where communication gaps persist. In many cities, hotel associations were already offering 20-40% discounts on 10-day stays.
Addressing social concerns, Moseni Bandopey acknowledged criticism of the lack of formal services for those staying in camps and tents. However, he defended the interagency model, pointing to examples of Red Crescent, police and emergency services exist throughout the informal area of residence. He noted that he has visited more than 4.6 million cultural heritage sites and produced 560 billion Tomans through the sale of handicrafts.
The Deputy Tourism Minister also addressed concerns about road safety and infrastructure as traffic fatalities fell by around 10%.
From an environmental initiative perspective, he said the headquarters has launched a new campaign called “Travel Without Waste,” which separates the Environmental Committee from the safety and health department. He highlighted the need for greater awareness of waste and plastic use, especially in coastal areas.
During the session, representatives from various ministries and committees, including health, transportation, emergency response, and law enforcement, presented reports on Nowruz’s holiday activities. Authorities have reaffirmed their goal of making travel more accessible, safe and sustainable for all Iranians, especially in the face of economic challenges.
Nowruz is a historic ritual observed annually on March 21st in many countries along the Silk Road. This marks the new year and announces the rebirth of spring and nature. Intercultural celebrations mean —new – and rouz – day – in Persian. Therefore, Nowruz means a new day and symbolizes a new beginning. People from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds celebrate Nowruz. The resurrection of spring has a very spiritual importance, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and joy of sorrow.
Over time, Nowruz developed development and expansion, incorporating new social, religious and cultural influences. Nowruz traditions and customs vary from country to country, but there are many unified features. In most areas, people perform ritual dances such as jumping over fires and streams before the festival. Many households also refill their water supply on the last Wednesday of the year.
Another common ritual and extensive tradition is the preparation of the Nowruz table. The objects on the table represent the purity, brightness, richness, happiness and fertility of the New Year. On Nowruz day, people visit feasts, family and friends and exchange gifts. These practices are a great way to interact with loved ones and strengthen the deep bond of friendship. Nowruz is also an opportunity for traditional cultural activities that combine common practices with local customs such as poetry, music, outdoor festivals and local street performances.
Recognizing the importance of this ancient ritual, Nowruz was engraved in 2009 on the UNESCO list of human heritage intangible cultural heritage. Furthermore, in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared International Knowles Day on March 21st.
morning