Iranian villages bracing for UN Tourism competition
Iran is preparing the dossier of eight of its rural gems for the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) competition, aiming for global recognition in 2025.
The announcement came during a rural tourism meeting led by Mostafa Fatemi Firoozabadi, Director-General of Domestic Tourism Development at Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, ISNA reported.
The selected villages — Soheili (Hormozgan), Kandolus (Mazandaran), Palangan (Kurdistan), Mueil (Ardebil), Hasanlu (West Azarbaijan), Shafiabad (Kerman), Barghan (Alborz), and Fahraj (Yazd) — have until May 19, 2025, to finalize and submit their applications. If approved, they stand to gain invaluable international exposure, boosting both local tourism and the broader regional economy.
“These villages have the potential to become focal points for tourism development in the country,” Fatemi said, stressing the importance of ramping up infrastructure, involving women in local initiatives, and addressing shortcomings through targeted action plans. He also called for the creation of detailed checklists to streamline preparations.
Fatemi explained that the selection process has been rigorous. A research collaboration with the University of Tehran initially spotlighted 150 villages, which were narrowed down to 50 based on specific criteria. From there, 24 villages were chosen for potential nomination between 2025 and 2027, with the current eight set to compete in next year’s global contest.
Interestingly, some of the villages on the 2025 list had previously failed to make the cut but returned stronger after addressing earlier deficiencies.
Fatemi noted, however, that villages passed over three times will be permanently removed from future consideration.
Mehdi Baharvand, head of the Tourism Attractions and Products Development Group, flagged issues like poor waste management, incomplete housing renovation plans, lack of accessibility for disabled visitors, and insufficient infrastructure such as public restrooms and road signs.
Baharvand also outlined key criteria for UN Tourism consideration, including cultural and natural resources, environmental sustainability, tourism potential, economic stability, and safety.
Villages scoring high in these areas are more likely to earn the coveted “Global Tourism Village” title, opening the door to significant promotional opportunities on the international stage.