TEHRAN – The first Semnan International Tourism Conference titled “Silk Road: Opportunities and Prospects” will be held tomorrow at Semnan University, according to the State Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
IRIB’s director-general, Bahman Afragi, said the event will bring together experts, researchers and representatives of the tourism industry from inside and outside Iran to discuss development opportunities along the historic Silk Road, IRIB news agency reported.
Akragi said the opening ceremony of the country’s first university-based professional training center for hotel management will be held in conjunction with the conference. He said the new center aims to improve professional training in the tourism sector and standardize hospitality services.
The official also highlighted that Semnan’s participation in the International Silk Road Initiative dates back to September 2023, when the city was selected as Iran’s representative to the United Nations Association of Tourism Cities along the Silk Road at a conference held in China. At that time, the Semnan International Silk Road Center was also established by the city authorities.
Afragi said Semnan’s role in the union will provide members with an opportunity to learn about the province’s cultural and historical assets, contributing to the growth of Iran’s tourism sector and local economy.
Semnan province, located in north-central Iran, is characterized by a combination of desert and forest landscapes and has historical significance as part of the ancient Silk Road. The region’s cultural heritage and diverse geography make it a focus of Iran’s tourism development efforts.
The ancient Silk Road has existed for thousands of years and has passed through empires, kingdoms, reigns, and societies throughout history. At certain times throughout history, merchants were free to travel along these routes, while at other times travel was difficult or dangerous.
According to UNESCO, the Silk Road enriched the countries it passed through, carrying cultures, religions, languages, and, of course, goods to societies in Europe, Asia, and Africa, connecting them all with a common thread of cultural heritage and multiple identities. Today, more than 40 countries exist along the historic land and sea Silk Roads, all of which still bear witness to the influence these routes have had on their cultures, traditions and customs.
Travelers along the Silk Road were attracted not only to trade but also to the intellectual and cultural exchanges that took place in the cities along the route, many of which developed into centers of culture and learning. In this way, science, art, literature, crafts, and technology have been shared and disseminated in society along these routes, and languages, religions, and cultures have developed and influenced each other.
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