Kerman serving as hub in revival of ancient spice route
Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts says the ancient city of Kerman is poised to play a “key role” in a major tourism revival project centered on the Spice Route — a trade network that stretches back more than 7,000 years.
Speaking at a high-level provincial meeting on Wednesday, Mostafa Fatemi, Director General of Domestic Tourism Development, said the ministry is focusing on two national tourism corridors, with the Spice Route being “the oldest trade path in the world.”
The route, Fatemi explained, begins in the Spice Islands of Southeast Asia and makes its way through Iran’s Kerman province. From there, it branches off toward Shush in the southwest and on to North Africa, while another path heads northwest toward Isfahan, then Turkey and Europe, IRNA reported.
“Kerman sits at a crossroads,” Fatemi told attendees at the 110th session of the Public-Private Dialogue Council held in Kerman Chamber of Commerce. “It deserves a dedicated corridor of its own.”
Fatemi cited archaeological findings — including ancient spices discovered in Iran’s Burnt City — as evidence supporting Kerman’s historic place on the route. Similar finds in Egypt and Morocco further validate the theory, he said.
Officials are eyeing the Hindu Caravanserai, a historic travelers’ inn in Kerman, for redevelopment under a joint agreement between the Ministry and Iran’s Endowments Organization. The site could soon welcome investment and restoration efforts led by a tourism development company. Beyond the Spice Route project, the ministry is urging a multi-pronged push to boost Kerman’s tourism sector, which has long lagged behind other regions.
Fatemi called for international events to be hosted in the province and suggested leveraging the region’s railway network to remove transport bottlenecks.
“We can’t talk tourism without talking trains,” he said, urging cross-ministerial cooperation to fix railway issues. Fatemi also laid out a vision to engage Kerman’s industries in protecting its cultural heritage. He proposed that each major company adopt a historic site, taking responsibility for its preservation, restoration, and promotion. The plan would be formalized through the provincial council and overseen by the Chamber of Commerce.
A similar initiative in the city of Yazd — involving the purchase and restoration of old homes as second residences — could be replicated in Kerman’s historic core. Fatemi said the model worked there and “could bring real value” to the aging urban fabric of Kerman.
The director also floated creative penalties for heritage violations. “Instead of jail time,” he said, “let them make adobe bricks, help restore sites, or print brochures for tourists.” Such community service models had shown success in the past, he noted.
Looking ahead, Kerman is preparing for a major new tourism campaign: Smile of the World to Kerman 1405, referencing the year in the Iranian calendar that begins in March 2026. Fatemi urged provincial leaders to rally every agency to develop events and unveil promotional materials before the year kicks off.
The province may also become Iran’s pilot region for geotourism, with the ministry ready to relocate the National Geotourism Secretariat to Kerman.
The council meeting coincided with Iran’s first National Ecotourism Festival, which opened in Kerman on May 21 and runs through May 23. Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts attended the launch.
Fatemi called for stronger private-sector support and a dedicated task force to clear investment hurdles. “You can’t draw investors if past ones walk away unhappy,” he warned. “Support is not optional — it’s foundational.”