Ardabil, Van to pursue tourism, investment development
Officials from Ardabil Province in northwestern Iran and the eastern Turkish city of Van have discussed expanding tourism cooperation and attracting investment to strengthen economic ties and promote regional attractions during a meeting.
The meeting was held at a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili historical complex in Ardebil city on October 16, 2026.
Jalil Jabari, head of Ardabil’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department and Van’s tourism director and representatives of the tourism industry attended the event.
The officials emphasized the need to develop cooperation in tourism, investment and economic exchanges. Jabari invited Turkish tourism officials and companies to visit Ardabil and explore opportunities in the province.
Van’s tourism director, in turn, invited Ardabil officials to attend the city’s international tourism and travel fair scheduled for November 2026.
Van, located in eastern Turkey, has become a popular shopping and travel destination for Iranians. More than one million Iranians visited the city in 2023.
Ardabil offers a range of historical, cultural and natural attractions including Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili complex, Sareyn’s hot springs, the Alvares ski resort, Fandoghlu Forest and suspension bridges in Meshgin Shahr, Hir and Sareyn.
Alongside efforts to attract visitors, Ardabil is pursuing investment in its tourism infrastructure.
“91 tourism projects were underway in the province, with a combined investment volume of 550 trillion rials. The projects are expected to create about 3,100 jobs,” Jabari said.
Jabari added that 25 investment packages would be uploaded to Iran’s National Licensing Portal within two months.
The initiative is intended to simplify the licensing process and allow investors to pursue permits through a single platform, reducing the need for repeated administrative inquiries.