Darak’s fishing heritage strengthens bid for global recognition
The head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department of Zarabad, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, said that fishing and maritime activities, as one of the most important traditional and deeply rooted occupations of residents of the Darak village, play a decisive role in the economic sustainability of the coastal community, adding that this indigenous capacity could become a key factor in the village’s bid for global recognition.
Anvar Singleh stated that a significant portion of the livelihood of its residents is based on marine-related activities, fishing, and the sustainable use of the region’s natural resources. He noted that the local economy has therefore developed around community participation and sustainable capacities, chtn.ir wrote.
He added that Darak village, due to its unique natural attractions — including the rare convergence of the sea, desert, and palm groves — as well as the authentic lifestyle of its residents, is considered one of the prominent tourism and cultural heritage destinations in southeastern Iran. Strengthening traditional occupations such as fishing, he said, can help preserve the local population and support balanced rural development.
Singleh further explained that one of the key criteria in the process of securing global registration for villages is economic sustainability, preservation of indigenous identity, and continuity of traditional lifestyles. Darak, he said, with its reliance on native capacities including a fishing-based economy, has the potential to gain recognition at both national and international levels.
According to Singleh, the global registration of Darak village would not only introduce the region’s cultural and natural attractions to the world, but also pave the way for tourism growth, sustainable employment opportunities, and increased income for the local community, turning the village into a successful model for sustainable tourism development.
For years, Darak has been regarded as a legendary destination among experienced travelers and nature enthusiasts — a place where desert and sea converge and palm trees rise just steps away from ocean waves. Many first-time visitors find it hard to believe such a landscape exists in Iran, where shifting sand dunes reach directly to the shoreline and sunsets create a striking fusion of land and water, according to chtn.ir.
The village now stands at a turning point. Inclusion in the global tourism villages list is far more than a ceremonial title; it could reshape development in southern Sistan and Baluchestan, boost tourism investment, and redefine how the region is perceived both nationally and internationally.
Tourism experts say Darak has all the essential elements required to become a world-class destination, from its untouched natural environment and authentic Baluchi culture to its traditional lifestyle, handicrafts, local music, and the warm hospitality of its people, where simplicity and sincerity remain deeply rooted.