Soheili, Kandelous, And Shafiabad Villages Recognized By Un Tourism For The Sustainable Efforts And Cultural Heritage Growth In Iran

Published on October 19, 2025

In a milestone for Iran’s tourism industry, Soheili, Kandelous, and Shafiabad person been named connected nan UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages list. The inclusion reflects Iran’s dedication to sustainable tourism and taste practice preservation, demonstrating nan imaginable of agrarian areas to prosper done productivity successful tourism while preserving section traditions for generations to come. These villages are a cross-section of Iran’s varied scenery, from nan mangrove swamps of Qeshm Island to nan upland flanks of nan Alborz and nan godforsaken landscapes of nan Lut Desert, grounds of nan nation’s immense tourism imaginable successful various parts .

A Showcase of Iran’s Rural Diversity and Cultural Heritage

Each of nan three villages recognized by UN Tourism brings a unsocial constituent of Iran’s agrarian heritage and earthy beauty to nan forefront of global tourism.

• Soheili, located connected Qeshm Island, is simply a leader successful eco-tourism and community-based conservation efforts. The villagers actively protect nan Hara mangrove forests and prosecute successful eco-friendly boating. Visitors tin bask accepted seafood dishes, acquisition local handicrafts, and research nan untouched natural beauty of nan island. Soheili’s beardown attraction connected environmental sustainability reflects a responsible approach to tourism that is attracting expanding numbers of eco-conscious travelers.
• Kandelous, nestled successful nan Alborz Mountains successful bluish Mazandaran province, is 1 of nan oldest agrarian settlements successful Iran, celebrated for its traditional chromatic houses, handicrafts, and breathtaking hiking trails done nan Hyrcanian forests. The colony houses some a cultural practice museum and a herbal museum, showcasing nan region’s blend of ancient knowledge and modern creativity. Kandelous provides visitors pinch an authentic rural experience, offering not only stunning natural landscapes but besides a chance to delve into Iran’s rich | cultural history.
• Shafiabad, located connected nan separator of nan Lut Desert, is renowned for its Qajar-era caravanserai and nan striking soil dunes and giant Kaluts—natural godforsaken formations carved by wind erosion. The colony attracts photographers and quality lovers keen to research nan immense godforsaken landscapes. Additionally, Shafiabad is location to respective women-led initiatives that attraction connected handicrafts, qanat restoration, and eco-tourism, highlighting really cultural heritage and social empowerment tin coexist to foster sustainable tourism development.

The Economic and Social Impact of Rural Tourism successful Iran

Rural tourism successful Iran plays a pivotal domiciled successful nan economic growth of mini villages and towns, creating job opportunities and providing economic stability done nan tourism sector. The inclusion of Soheili, Kandelous, and Shafiabad successful nan Best Tourism Villages programme not only elevates nan floor plan of these villages but besides highlights their economic potential arsenic cardinal contributors to local economies.

These villages are transforming tourism into a sustainable industry by balancing preservation pinch development, ensuring that nan natural resources and cultural heritage that pull visitors stay intact for early generations. The maturation of eco-tourism successful Soheili, for instance, straight benefits nan local community, providing income done tourism activities while besides ensuring that nan mangrove forests are protected.

The nickname besides promotes nan integration of section communities into nan tourism process, ensuring that nan benefits of tourism are distributed equitably. The beingness of women-led businesses successful Shafiabad demonstrates nan empowering role of tourism successful fostering social development, particularly successful agrarian areas wherever gender equality and community-based tourism initiatives tin support sustainable economical growth.

Promoting Cultural Heritage done Sustainable Practices

Cultural tourism successful Iran has seen a emergence successful popularity, and nan nickname of these villages adds momentum to nan country’s efforts to beforehand heritage preservation. UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages program underscores nan value of sustainable tourism practices that respect some cultural heritage and environmental conservation. Iran’s expertise to support its rich traditions while adapting to modern tourism demands is simply a testament to nan occurrence of initiatives for illustration nan Upgrade Programme and nan nickname of local taste industries.

In Kandelous, for example, nan herbal museum and cultural practice museum service arsenic important hubs for preserving accepted knowledge while besides providing acquisition opportunities for visitors willing successful local crafts and medicinal plants. The ongoing efforts successful Shafiabad, pinch its eco-tourism initiatives, qanat restoration projects, and handicrafts, show really tourism tin beryllium integrated into nan conservation of taste heritage, creating economic opportunities while ensuring sustainable development.

Shaping nan Future of Rural Tourism successful Iran and Beyond

As nan Best Tourism Villages programme grows, Iran will proceed to play a starring domiciled successful promoting sustainable tourism that benefits some section communities and nan environment. By recognizing Soheili, Kandelous, and Shafiabad, UN Tourism is encouraging nan improvement of rural tourism successful Iran, supporting nan country’s extremity to create a more inclusive and balanced tourism sector that is rooted successful community engagement, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.

The early of Iranian tourism lies successful nan continued improvement of its rural destinations, ensuring that local communities use from tourism while besides preserving nan natural and taste heritage that draws visitors from astir nan world. With further finance successful eco-tourism and sustainable practices, Iran is poised to go a global leader successful cultural tourism, offering authentic recreation experiences that beforehand some economic and social development.

Celebrating Iran’s Rural Heritage and Tourism Potential

The nickname of Soheili, Kandelous, and Shafiabad arsenic UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages programme is an endorsement of awesome value for nan tourism assemblage of Iran. It showcases nan nation’s capacity for merging taste heritage, quality tourism, and sustainable improvement into a azygous integrated merchandise that benefits some locals and tourists. As Iran keeps expanding these agrarian destinations of tourism, it is establishing an world modular for nan early of greenish tourism—one that upholds organization empowerment, taste conservation, and biology stewardship.