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What is Cultural Heritage? 

Cultural Heritage is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values. Cultural heritage is among the most fundamental basics for identity consolidation, creativity and national self-esteem in any country. Research in its various fields sheds light on some historic ambiguities, acknowledges the values resulted from the deep-rooted heritage, and accelerate the recognition of latent values in a country’s cultural heritage. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either Intangible or Tangible Cultural Heritage (ICOMOS, 2002).

Handicrafts of Iran 

Iran's handicraft is one of the most significant artistic industries that has deep roots in the culture and history of this land. Iranian handicraft has a very wide range of diversity and comes first in the world with a wide gap with other handicraft industries. Iran has many ancient crafts. The extent and breadth of these branches can be divided into several subclauses, which indicate the diversity and flourishing of the level of traditional arts and its roots in the rich history of Iran.

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UN Tourism head to come to Iran for Tehran-hosted event

Zurab Pololikashvili Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization will visit Iran for the Tehran International Tourism & related Industries Exhibition (TITE), an Iranian tourism official said.

South Khorasan shines bright with rural destinations

TEHRAN – Situated in the eastern part of Iran, South Khorasan holds 14 approved target destination villages, which makes the province a delightful station for travel lovers.

Iran’s rural tourism: eight villages vie for UN recognition

TEHRAN – As this year’s UN Tourism deadline to submit applications for the best tourism villages evaluation draws near [April 24], Iran has nominated eight most qualified villages to vie for global recognition.

Goush-fil made a national heritage

The skill of making Goush-fil (Persian: “elephant's ear”), which is fried pastry, has been registered in Iran’s national list for intangible cultural heritage.

Underground city set to welcome visitors for very first time

TEHRAN – As the countdown to welcome Nowruz [Persian new year’s celebration] has started, the ancient underground city of ‘Samen’, situated in Iran’s Malayer, is set to open its doors to the public during the approaching holidays for the very first time.

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در ﺣﺎل اﻧﺘﻘﺎل ﺑﻪ ﺳﺎﯾﺖ ﻣﻮرد ﻧﻈﺮ ﻫﺴﺘﯿﺪ....

Iran: Heritage Preservation and Tourism

• Reference work entry
• First Online: 26 October 2020
• pp 5935–5940
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• Azwin Azny Aksan 2  

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Introduction and Historical Background

This entry seeks to provide empirical evidence concerning heritage preservation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A brief description of the country’s tourism industry is also presented as this relates to the cultural heritage.

Until 1935, Iran was historically referred to as Persia when Reza Shah Pahlavi formally announced to call the country by its native name, Iran. Under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini, the current Islamic Republic of Iran was founded in 1979. Iran has an impressive history and fascinating culture. The Iranians are very proud of their culture and history. It is important to note that Iran is not an Arab country. Iran comes from the word “Aryan” with its official language being Farsi, an Indo-European language. Although Iran is portrayed in the media as a society of purely Islamic fundamentalists, the country is also comprised of people practicing other religions making it, in reality, a multicultural national entity.

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O’Gorman, K.D., T. Baum, and L.R. McLellan. 2007. Tourism in Iran: Central control and indigeneity. In Tourism and indigenous peoples: Issues and implications , ed. R. Butler and T. Hinch, 297–317. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Google Scholar  

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World Tourism Organization (WTO). 2002. Tourism after 11 September: Analysis, remedial actions and prospects . Madrid: World Tourism Organization.

Further Reading

Alavi, J., and M. Yasin. 2000. Iran’s tourism potential and market realities: An empirical approach to closing the gap. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing 9: 11–19.

Article   Google Scholar  

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ICHHTO – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts And Tourism Organization. n.d. Available at: http://www.ichhto.org/ .

ICHO Headquarters, Teheran. n.d. Available at: http://www.iranmiras.ir .

Information about Iran and traveling to Iran. n.d. Available at: http://www.itto.org and http://www.chn.ir/Tourism/English/Index.asp .

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Irpedia. Available at: http://www.irpedia.com/iran /.

Locations of stolen heritage. n.d. Available at: http://www.iran-heritage.org/aboutus/locations.htm .

Sonmez, S. 1998. Tourism, terrorism risk and political instability. Annals of Tourism Research 25: 416–456.

World Bank Advisor: Iran’s economic growth depends on expansion of private sector. 2004. Available at: www.payvand.com . Accessed 3 Mar 2005.

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Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA

Azwin Azny Aksan

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Correspondence to Azwin Azny Aksan .

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Aksan, A.A. (2020). Iran: Heritage Preservation and Tourism. In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30018-0_1948

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Members of IRAN Tour Operators Association (ITOA) attended WTM exhibition London

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ITOA will participate in Russia's MITT Exhibition that will be held in Moscow on 14 -16 March 2017.

A B2B meeting with tourism activists from Pakistan, Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan region...

On behalf of the International Trade Centre and the Iran Trade Promotion Organization...

Message from the President of ITOA on the occasion of ITB 2021

This webinar was held in cooperation with the Iranian Tour Operators Association, the Uzbek Embassy.

A number of members of ITOA, including Surinet Agency and Aria Ponel, were present for the first time....

The Fitur Spain 2020 Tourism Fair was attended by a number of members of the ITOA.

B2B meeting organized by Iran Tour Operators Association...

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Iran (Islamic Republic of)

• Description
• UNESCO Country page
• World heritage Fund, States Parties Contributions
• International Assistance
• State of Conservation
• Periodic Reporting Questionnaire 2008-2015
• Periodic Reporting Questionnaire 2018-2024
• Asia & Pacific, World Heritage Convention Regional Contact
• Asia & Pacific, World Heritage Regional page
• Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran (2008)
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape (2004)
• Bisotun (2006)
• Cultural Landscape of Hawraman/Uramanat (2021)
• Cultural Landscape of Maymand (2015)
• Golestan Palace (2013)
• Gonbad-e Qābus (2012)
• Historic City of Yazd (2017)
• Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan (2012)
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan (1979)
• Pasargadae (2004)
• Persepolis (1979)
• Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (2018)
• Shahr-i Sokhta (2014)
• Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (2010)
• Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (2009)
• Soltaniyeh (2005)
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• Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (2010)
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• The Persian Caravanserai (2023)
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• Trans-Iranian Railway (2021)
• Hyrcanian Forests (2019, 2023)
• Lut Desert (2016)

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A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination. More about the Tentative List Process

• Jame' (Congregational) Mosque of Esfahan 1997
• Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin 1997
• Firuzabad Ensemble 1997
• Nasqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab 1997
• Tape Sialk 1997
• Taq-e Bostan 2007
• Kuh-e Khuaja 2007
• Persepolis and other relevant buildings 2007
• The Historical–Cultural Axis of Fin, Sialk, Kashan 2007
• Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin 2007
• Historic Monument of Kangavar 2007
• The Historical City of Maybod 2007
• The Historical Port of Siraf 2007
• Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar 2007
• The Historical Village of Abyaneh 2007
• Bastam and Kharghan 2007
• The Historical Texture of Damghan 2007
• The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar 2007
• Kaboud Mosque 2007
• Tous Cultural Landscape 2007
• The Historical City of Masouleh 2007
• The Complex of Izadkhast 2007
• Cultural Landscape of Alamout 2007
• Khorramabad Valley 2007
• Jiroft 2007
• Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan 2007
• Qeshm Island 2007
• Arasbaran Protected Area 2007
• Sabalan 2007
• Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge 2007
• Alisadr Cave 2007
• Silk Route (Also as Silk Road) 2008
• The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh 2008
• The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province 2008
• Kerman Historical-Cultural Structure 2008
• Hegmataneh 2008
• The Collection of Historical Bridges 2008
• Touran Biosphere Reserve 2008
• Hamoun Lake 2008
• Harra Protected Area 2008
• Damavand 2008
• Asbads (windmill) of Iran 2017
• Natural-Historical Complex / Cave of Karaftoo 2017
• Imam Reza Holy Complex 2017
• Industrial Heritage of textile in the central Plateau of Iran 2017
• Salt Domes of Iran 2017
• The Great Wall of Gorgan 2017
• The Persian House in Central plateau of Iran 2017
• University of Tehran 2017
• Monastery of St. Amenaprkich (New Julfa Vank) 2019
• Vali-e Asr Street 2019
• Serial Nomination of Tehrans' Modern Architectural Heritage 2021
• Chega Sofla (Ritual Landscape of Chega Sofla) 2021
• Architecture of the historical settlements across the northern coasts of Persian Gulf (Siraf, Kong, Laft, Kish and Mokran) 2021
• Cultural Landscape of Kong Historic Port 2021
• Long-lived trees of Iran 2021
• Sheikh Ahmad-e Jām Khaneghah and Mausoleum Complex (Mazar-e Jām) 2021

State of conservation of World Heritage properties since 1979 and the threats they have faced in the past, or are currently facing. More about State of Conservation

• Trans-Iranian Railway 2023
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2023
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2021
• Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region 2021
• The Persian Qanat 2021
• Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region 2019
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2019
• The Persian Qanat 2018
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2017
• Shahr-i Sokhta 2016
• Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan 2016
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2015
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2015
• Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan 2014
• Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan 2013
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2013
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2013
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2012
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2012
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• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2010
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• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2009
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2008
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2008
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2007
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2007
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• Bam and its Cultural Landscape 2005
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• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2003
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 2002
• Tchogha Zanbil 2000
• Tchogha Zanbil 1998
• Meidan Emam, Esfahan 1995
• Tchogha Zanbil 1995

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Over 5 Million Foreign Tourists Visit Iran in 11-Month Period: UNWTO

• January, 30, 2024 - 11:17
• Society/Culture news

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The World Tourism Organization of the United Nations in its latest report said more than five million foreign tourists visited Iran in the first 11 months of 2023, registering a 42 percent growth compared to the same period a year earlier.

The international tourism body in a report revealed a boom in Iran’s tourism industry in 2023.

The arrival of foreign tourists to Iran witnessed a 42% hike from January to November 2023, it said. 

The report added that over 3.74 million foreign tourists had visited Iran from January to November 2022 and the number rose to more than 5 million in the first 11 months of 2023.

The 42% growth in the arrival of foreign tourists to Iran in 2023 came as Iran’s tourism industry experienced a significant slump during the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Only 880,000 foreign tourists had visited Iran in 2021, but the number grew to 4.11 million in 2022. 

Foreign Tourists’ Visits to Iran Up 26% in 7 Months: WTO

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Iran’s tourist arrivals reach 2.93 million in Jan-Jul 2023, UNWTO barometer indicates

TEHRAN—Foreign tourist arrivals in Iran reached some 2.93 million between January and July 2023, according to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer.

Although the country’s performance as a tourism destination is still far below that of 2019, which was before the start of the Covid pandemic, it is improving slightly compared to last year's statistics, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

The average statistics of Iran’s tourism from January to August 2023 is 50% lower than the same period in 2019 based on the barometer that tracks the sector’s post-pandemic recovery over the course of 2023 up to the end of July.

Accordingly, Iran attracted 181,423 foreign travelers in January; 327, 816 people in February; 363,547 in March; 381.769 in April, 537,837 in May; 551.142 in June; and 590, 350 in July. 

Another statistic compiled by Iran’s tourism ministry indicates the country saw 3.35 million tourist arrivals in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), which soars 38 percent year on year.

The rate of tourist arrivals, mainly from Iran’s neighboring countries, has been “promising”, according to Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, who is the deputy tourism minister.

“The course of attracting inbound passengers was promising so that from the first of the year to end of Shahrivar, three million and 354 thousand travelers entered the country, which shows a growth of 38% compared to a year earlier,” Shalbafian said in a press conference last week.

He probably hinted at the country’s tourism revival as coronavirus restrictions have been eased, but remained way below pre-pandemic levels.

The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeks a border-easing strategy based on which it may unilaterally drop visa requirements for passport holders of 60 states, the official noted. The scheme recommends unilateral cancellation of visas with Muslim countries and neighboring states to increase international arrivals, the official said.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

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Iran Tourism Statistics

Iran ir: international tourism: expenditures, view iran's iran ir: international tourism: expenditures from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: expenditures: for passenger transport items from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: expenditures: for travel items from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: number of arrivals from 1995 to 2016 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Number of Departures

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: number of departures from 1995 to 2016 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Receipts

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: receipts from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Receipts: for Passenger Transport Items

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: receipts: for passenger transport items from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

Iran IR: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items

View iran's iran ir: international tourism: receipts: for travel items from 1995 to 2015 in the chart:.

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