Tehran – Mehdi Jamalinejad, governor of Isfahan, announced that over 5.3 million people have visited Isfahan’s historical and cultural charm since the beginning of Nowruz Holidays.
Of these, around 1.6 million tourists have chosen to stay in the state, Jamalinehad added on Tuesday.
At the meeting of the Isfahan metropolitan travel services headquarters at the Fadak Tourist Camp, Jamarinejad emphasized Isfahan’s status as a legendary city. He said of the 1.6 million visitors who stayed in the province, around 591,000 tourists stayed in Isfahan city, and 74,000 people chose accommodation within the Fadak tourist facility.
Living outdoor museum
Jamalinehad describes Isfahan as an “open-air museum” consisting of 114 cities, and could accommodate even more visitors. He emphasized the importance of implementing strategies to expand tourist stays in Isfahan.
He also praised the efforts of several state cities, especially Kashan, for effective tourism development initiatives.
The Governor emphasizes that the city of Isfahan alone lives in more than half of the province’s 22,000 historic sites. He called for the development of a structured plan to promote these attractions, especially those lesser known.
Strengthen promotion of tourism and handicrafts
Jamalinejad proposed that a structured itinerary should be designed so that tourists can efficiently explore Isfahan’s important attractions. He also emphasized the importance of displaying handicrafts from across the city’s states, urging local governments to adopt a statewide approach in this regard.
“The display of handicrafts from all regions of Isfahan (province) in the Metropolitan City is a favourable situation for both city management, craftsmen and handicraft professionals. Some of the handicrafts in the state can serve as important attractions for visitors.
Recognizing the growing reputation of Isfahan as a tourism hub, Jamalinehad emphasized the high expectations placed on various sectors. He also praised Isfahan’s urban management for his valuable contributions to tourism development.
Development of Fadak Tourist Camp
The Governor also emphasized the importance of expanding the Fadak tourist camp, saying the site has great potential for new tourist facilities and attractions. He proposed the construction of a third phase with a clear architectural style to address existing restrictions and promote the site to Isfahan’s best tourist destination.
“After the third phase is completed, you will be able to host more tourists at Fadak Tourist Camp over the summer. Furthermore, providing handicrafts on the site can attract visitors and promote sales,” he added.
Focused on Nowruz’s Handycrafts
Jamalinehad also emphasized that the state administration places particular emphasis on the nowruz on handicrafts. The statewide, 600 handicraft stalls have been set up, generating approximately 250 billion rials (approximately $250,000) in revenue. He believes that the figure could rise to 2.5 trillion rial (during the same period) given the state’s outstanding handicraft potential.
“In a year dedicated to investing in production, we must focus on handicrafts. All sectors, particularly urban management, should make a strong effort to introduce this important cultural asset to tourists and sell it directly,” he said.
The Governor noted that this year’s Nowruz celebrations differ from last few years, focusing on promoting local handicrafts throughout the state. He pointed out that many high quality crafts produced in the towns and villages of Isfahan remain at reasonable prices and that with proper marketing, they can be successfully introduced to a wider audience.
Global handicraft capital
Isfahan holds a national ranking of skilled craftsmen. Of Iran’s 400 recognized craft fields, more than 180 people are associated with Isfahan. The state has also received excellence of 22 of the 45 awarded nationally, cementing its position as a global creative city for handicrafts.
Although once a crossroads between international trade and diplomacy, the ancient city of Isfahan continues to be one of Iran’s most prominent tourist destinations. It is famous for its breathtaking Islamic architecture, including its stunning mosques, palaces and bazaars.
Visitors can explore Persian gardens and walk along the city’s lined boulevards, immerse themselves in beauty and history at every turn. City architectural wonders such as Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the world’s largest squares, become gems of the town’s plans.
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