TEHRAN – Deputy Director of Isfahan’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Bureau said tourist stays in Isfahan have fallen by 20% this year, while cities in other provinces have witnessed a double or triple increase in tourist arrivals.
Alireza Habibi told IRNA that Lenjan, Khor and Kashan were the cities that hosted the most tourists.
He attributes this success to propaganda measures, the introduction of the city’s charms of the province, festivals and Knowlesga (a cultural event designed to revive and promote the ancient traditions of Iranian diverse ethnic groups).
He added that the position to introduce information dissemination centres and geographical attractions to introduce geographical attractions played a major role in inviting tourists to lesser known parts of the state.
“We used online services and technology to collect tourist data for the first time this year,” he added. This provided more accurate information on the housing of tourists in the state, he said.
He continued that only 10% of the state’s homes are associated with official accommodation. He added that 40% of tourists stayed in the informal centres and 6% lived in emergency accommodation.
He placed the total entrance of tourists in Isfahan to 2.9 million based on the number of SIM cards.
He added that 1.9 million cars were registered in Isfahan province during Nowruz Holidays.
Habibi has brought its total stay in Isfahan to 2.9 million during Nowruz Holidays.
The ancient city of Isfahan, which also serves as the capital of the province, is at a crossroads of Iran’s north and east-west trade routes. It reached its peak between the 9th and 18th centuries. During the Safavid era, it became the capital of Iran under Shah Abbas the Great.
Isfahan once stood at a crossroads in Iran’s international trade and diplomacy, but now for good reason it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations. It is filled with many architectural wonders, including unparalleled Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, tree-lined paths and more. It is a city where you walk, get lost in a bazaar, a city where you can doze off in beautiful gardens and meet people.
The Persian proverb “Isfahan Nezuf e Jahan Asto” (Isfahan is half the world) reflects the cultural and historical prominence of the city.
KD