Efforts underway to promote unknown attractions of Mazandaran Province
The roads in northern Iran that connect to Mazandaran Province boast numerous historical, natural, and cultural attractions, making them some of the busiest routes in the region. The province is home to a vast number of sightseeing spots, so much so that visiting even a third of them would take months. Official statistics indicate that over 2,800 cultural heritage landmarks in the province are registered on the National Heritage List, establishing it as a unique collection of tourist destinations. However, the distribution of visitors to these must-see locations is significantly unbalanced.
An analysis of the travel statistics for Mazandaran Province reveals an imbalance between the number of trips and the attention given to the various attractions. For instance, during the Iranian New Year Holidays (Nowruz) in 2022, out of 4.5 million visits to the province’s tourist destinations, 2,255,273 were to natural sites. During the same period, 289,990 visitors explored the historical attractions, while 182,406 people toured the province’s museums. The recreational infrastructure of Mazandaran Province also recorded 1,440,427 visits.
The released official figures indicate that the majority of visitors travel to Mazandaran Province to visit the shores of the Caspian Sea and the nearby forests. As a result, the four main roads leading to the province are primarily seen as transit routes, leading to a situation where a large number of historical and cultural landmarks located along these roads receive less attention.
The officials of the Mazandaran Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization have decided to prioritize this highly important tourist potential of the province and concentrate on promoting the must-see spots situated along the roads.
Hossein Izadi, the head of the organization, believes that Mazandaran Province has a wealth of cultural, recreational, and historical attractions that have the potential to attract travelers. However, these attractions remain largely unknown and untapped, despite their significant tourism potential.
In an interview with IRNA, he emphasized the importance of taking a long-term approach in this regard, which would help create economic development in the surrounding communities. He pointed out that the villages along Chalus, Haraz, Savadkuh, and Kiasar roads have the potential to attract a large number of travelers.
Izadi also noted that there are many natural and historical sites in the area that are still undiscovered by most tourists. He said that efforts will be made to promote these attractions as travelers enter the province in order to increase their visibility and draw in more visitors.