TEHRAN – Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, recently held its first paratourism organized for the hearing-impaired, IRIB news agency reported on Monday.
Azadeh Abedinzadeh, director of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts at the Qeshm Island Free Zone Organization, said the event was designed to provide people with disabilities with equal access to the island’s tourism resources and to showcase the role of water in the local civilization and ecosystem.
She pointed out that a group of deaf people accompanied by a guide fluent in sign language visited the natural and cultural attractions of Raft, Sohaili village and Hengam on Qeshm Island.
The tour introduced participants to the island’s water-related heritage, the role of water in shaping local communities, and its water-related natural heritage. Education and support programs on the protection of Qeshm’s water resources were also highlighted.
Improving accessibility to tourist sites and facilities remains a priority, Abedinzadeh said, adding that Qeshm, the only Iranian island included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, has the potential to promote inclusive tourism. “Similar programs are planned for other disability groups.”
He also announced that the island, with support from the Department of Culture, Society and Tourism, has launched the first local tour guide training course for deaf participants, describing this as a step towards meeting international accessibility standards.
Qeshm Island, with an area of 1,491 square kilometers, is located opposite Iran’s Hormozgan province near Bandar Abbas and at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route in the world.
Often referred to as a “natural and geological museum,” Qeshm Island is home to a variety of spectacular rock formations and landscapes. The Valley of the Stars is one of its most iconic locations. It’s a maze of narrow canyons and towering geological formations carved by wind and rain over thousands of years. Local legend says that a star once fell here, giving the valley its name and mystical reputation. Another highlight is the Chaku Valley, a natural wonder carved into the salt-limestone mountains by centuries of water erosion. With its vertical cliffs and narrow gorges, Chaku offers an unforgettable experience for both tourists and geologists.
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