Eight attractive Iranian villages to vie on global stage
Eight villages have been announced as Iran’s final candidates in the project of the best global tourism villages, positioning them to compete on the global stage. The initiative, proposed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2021, aims to promote the role of tourism in safeguarding villages.
To evaluate the candidate villages, the UNWTO has established key indicators encompassing various aspects. These indicators include the availability of resources and attractions, restoration and protection of resources, social and environmental sustainability, tourism value chain, infrastructure and communications, as well as safety and security, according to Mehr News Agency.
These indicators are further divided into 40 sub-indices, providing a comprehensive framework for assessing the villages. Initially, 130 villages from across Iran entered the selection process. Following the evaluation based on the UNWTO’s indicators, this number was narrowed down to 30 villages. Finally, taking into account the designated capacity for each country, eight villages emerged as the final candidates representing Iran.
The selected villages that will participate in the global competition are Kandovan in East Azarbaijan, Meymand in Kerman, Soheili in Hormozgan, Qasemabad in Gilan, Kandolus in Mazandaran, Abyaneh in Isfahan, Palangan in Kordestan, and Bisheh in Lorestan.
In preparation for the competition, Iran has completed the documentation for its candidate villages. This includes the submission of supporting materials such as video clips showcasing the tourism attractions and potentials of each village, as well as relevant images. These materials have been prepared and uploaded to the World Tourism Organization’s system.