Hotel News Professional and Inclusive Hospitality Group

Search result...

Iranian archaeologist Ahmad Kabiri Hendi dies at 76

The Iranian archaeologist and architectural conservator Ahmad Kabiri Hendi, who joined plenty of archaeological explorations in his motherland, died in a Tehran hospital on Sunday. He was 76. Born in 1945 in Tehran, he studied archeology at the University of Tehran. He was employed by the national organization for the preservation of antiquities of Iran and then served in the [then] Cultural Heritage Organization as an archaeologist, site, and monument conservator. He was a member of the board of the ICOMOS of Iran and chairman of the Documents and Publications Committee. His prominent field projects include the protection and restoration of Harireh, an 8th-century city in Kish Island, the Anahita Temple at Kangavar, archaeological surveys at Shah Zand, Delazian near Semnan, Qasr Bahram Caravanserai, Persepolis, Farah Abad at Sari, etc. Furthermore, Jebrael Nokandeh, the director-general of the National Museum of Iran expressed his deep sorrow over the death of the prominent researcher and offered his condolences to his family, and the Iranian archeological community, and the ICOMOS of Iran. He added his name and valuable works will be remembered.

Create: May 6, 2021 Edit: May 6, 2021 Regional News

Persepolis restorers start work on Seljuk-era inscription

A team of cultural heritage restorers from the UNESCO-registered Persepolis has commenced work on a Seljuk-era (1037–1194) inscription, which is located in Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province. "The lack of adequate restoration and protection caused further erosion and destruction of this historical monument," Mehr quoted Seyyed Amin Qasemi, the provincial tourism chief, as saying on Monday. "Considering the sensitivity of the restoration of stone monuments, a specialized team of Persepolis restorers was invited to inspect the inscription and develop their proposal." The inscription has written on a large stone with a height of 3.5 meters in Kufic, which is a type of Arabic script. The Seljuk engraving is the symbol of the rich culture of people in this region. The main topic of the inscription is about cutting taxes, feeding livestock on the Shapur I pastures, and forbid some unpleasant customs. The principal purpose of carving the Seljuk inscription was the association of government with the people about informing the new rules. The place of this inscription has selected so that each caravan that was coming from the Iranian plateau could perceive the inscription. Seljuk, also spelled, Seljuq, was a ruling military family of the Oguz (Ghuzz) Turkic tribes that invaded southwestern Asia in the 11th century and eventually founded an empire that included Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and most of Iran. Their advance marked the beginning of Turkish power in the Middle East. Soaked in history and culture, Lorestan is one of the lesser-known travel destinations in Iran, which mainly acts as a gateway to the sweltering plains below in adjoining Khuzestan province. Most travelers just pass through on their way to the UNESCO sites of Susa, Tchogha Zanbil, and Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System. Lorestan is also a region of raw beauty that an avid nature lover could spend weeks exploring. Lorestan was inhabited by Iranian Indo-European peoples, including the Medes, c. 1000 BC. Cimmerians and Scythians intermittently ruled the region from about 700 to 625 BC. Lorestan was incorporated into the growing Achaemenid Empire in about 540 BC and successively was part of the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid dynasties.

Create: May 6, 2021 Edit: May 6, 2021 Regional News

Tehran, Rome discuss ways to expand tourism

Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Giuseppe Perrone, the Italian Ambassador to Iran, discussed ways to expand tourism and cultural ties on Monday. Iran’s tourism sector achieved growth despite the adverse effects of the U.S. sanctions and the country tried to minimize the effects of the sanctions, Mounesan said. Given the positive trend of the ongoing negotiations, good opportunities will be provided to strengthen Iran’s cooperation with various countries, he added. The minister also announced Iran’s readiness to hold a joint handicrafts exhibition in Iran and Italy. Perrone, for his part, said that Iran enjoys enormous tourist attractions, which could be a good opportunity for tourism prosperity and cultural cooperation with different countries. Pointing to the joint archeological projects, carried out by Iranian ad Italian experts over the past decades, he asked for more strong cooperation in this field. In 2019, the two nations celebrated 60 years of joint missions in the field of archaeology. Tehran and Rome have enhanced cooperation over the past couple of decades, with the arenas of archaeology and cultural heritage at the topmost level. In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times in August 2020, Perrone said: “Archaeology is certainly an area for us that is extremely important because it tells the world how our countries are heirs to ancient civilizations and this extremely important because it is part of identity, it’s part of who we are, and it helps us to better connect with one another.” “And I think because our cultural ties are so deep and so complete in every area, that we do have a responsibility to showcase this richness and to tell people the story of this important connection that has always existed between Italy and Iran in different areas so we look forward to our future projects which are going to be quite amazing,” he stated. Tens of Italian archaeologists have worked with their Iranian fellows to ace important discoveries. Their cooperation can be classified into four major lines of Joint mission in Fars province, Archaeological project in Shahr-e-Soukhteh, Sapienza University in Kermanshah project, and Expedition in Khuzestan.

Create: May 4, 2021 Edit: May 4, 2021 Regional News

Iran extends ban on passenger flights due to coronavirus surge

Iran has extended travel restrictions on flights to and from 15 countries due to a surge in the coronavirus disease, according to Iran Civil Aviation. The Islamic Republic has banned flights to India, Pakistan, France, Botswana, Brazil, Czech Republic, Iraq, Estonia, Ireland, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Slovakia, South Africa, and Zambia aimed to curb the disease, Meher quoted Hassan Khoshkhou, the director of Air Transport at the ICA, as saying on Wednesday. Moreover, the ban of selling air tickets to the cited countries has been declared to the travel agencies based on a decree issued by the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control, the official explained. Iranian citizens without a negative coronavirus PCR test result are subject to medical screening and quarantine for 14 days at their own expense, while non-Iranian nationalities without the certificate are not allowed to enter the country. All passengers are subject to the medical screening on arrival, and if they are suspected of having the disease, non-Iranian nationalities will be quarantined at a place specified by the Health Ministry at their own expense and Iranian citizens will need to self-isolate for 14 days. The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill, and tourism has been the worst affected of all major economic sectors. World tourist arrivals fell by 72% over the first ten months of 2020, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in December. Iran has also suffered the same fate as, according to available data, its foreign arrivals plunged 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019. New cases and mortalities In a press briefing on Wednesday, Iran's Health Ministry’s spokesperson confirmed 21,713 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of infections to 2,459,906. She added that 1,923,081 patients have so far recovered, but 5,338 remain in critical conditions of the disease."During the past 24 hours, 434 patients have lost their lives, bringing the total number of deaths to 70,966," she added. So far, some 15,562,560 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been performed in the country.

Create: May 1, 2021 Edit: May 1, 2021 Regional News

Iran eyes UNESCO status for five intangible elements

Iran seeks to register five intangible elements on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in near future, Mehr reported on Tuesday. The country has recently submitted [revised] dossiers for the ancient festivities of Mehregan and Yalda, crafting and playing [the stringed instrument of] the Oud, traditional craft of silk spinning, and Turkmen Duzi (a kind of traditional textile being practiced by Iranian Turkman tribes), the report said. Yalda (the birth of a new sun), which is also called Yalda Night, is celebrated on the eve of the winter solstice, which falls on the last day of Azar (the last month of autumn in the Iranian calendar year). On that graceful night, the winter chill is vanquished and the warmth of love embraces the entire family. It’s a time for pleasant family reunions that entails laughter, merriment, and good cheer. According to UNESCO, Yalda ceremonies, in the best way, point to cultural diversity and human creativity, especially when one considers the wide range of the communities that celebrate it. Mehregan celebration, which falls on the 196th day of the Iranian calendar year that usually equals October 2 in the Gregorian calendar, brings together clusters of Iranian Zoroastrians to hold reunions in celebration of Mithra, an ancient goddess of friendship, affection, and love. A key feature for the event is large spreads in purple laden with various ingredients, dishes, and elements each on behalf of a particular belief. Fruits, vegetables, dried nuts, sweets, rosewater, grilled lamb meat, lotus seeds, and silver coins, and a scale are typically placed, the latter symbolizes autumnal equinox. The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument frequently used in Persian and Middle Eastern music whose construction is similar to that of the lute. It was thought that this musical instrument was invented by nomad tribes since it was light and mobile. Some believe it was originated in the Caucasus region, other sources report more western regions as a point of origin. Some findings show an early elliptical design of Oud found in the ruins of Shush, Iran. Some experts theorize that a priest is shown to be playing it in that depiction. The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, Iran aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: May 1, 2021 Edit: May 1, 2021 Regional News

Hop-on hop-off bus roams Tehran in memory of health martyrs

In a symbolic gesture initiated by Tehran Miniciapility, a hop-on hop-off bus on Sunday started roaming the downtown streets of the Iranian capital to mark healthcare workers who lost their lives to COVID-19. Hundreds of front-line health professionals have so far died in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. According to available official data, some 60 percent of the martyrs were physicians, 20 percent were nurses and the rest were other hospital staff.On January 27, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said Iran will soon be one of the world’s important manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine.The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought travel to a standstill nearly all over the globe, including Iran, causing huge job and revenue losses. However, experts believe the impact of virus infection would be temporary and short-lived for the Islamic Republic, which ranked the third fastest-growing tourism destination in 2019.Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous major civilizations, embracing settlements dating back to 4000 BC.

Create: Apr 27, 2021 Edit: Apr 27, 2021 Regional News

Tens of Iranian relics returned home from British institute

A total of 100 Iranian relics, which were on loan to the British Institute of Persian Studies (BIPS) for some half a century, have been finally returned home, ISNA reported on Saturday. "Through cultural diplomacy, another collection of [Iranian relics, which contains] 10,000 cultural materials, including 100 museum objects have been returned to the National Museum of Iran after half a century. The objects were on loan to the British Institute of Iranian Studies," the news agency quoted Iran's tourism minister as saying. We hope to set up a public exhibition of the relics at the National Museum of Iran in near future, Ali-Asghar Mounesan added, the report said. The museum objects are made of stone, pottery, bone, brick, etc., and the documentation of these works is on the agenda of the National Museum of Iran, the official noted. "The Tehran headquarters of the British Institute of Persian Studies used to be home to groups of British archaeologists and Iranologists who came to Iran to study, visit, conduct field studies and archaeological excavations…," the minister explained. BIPS was founded in 1961 to promote and encourage the study of Iran, its history, civilisation, and culture in all periods of history. Much of BIPS research and work in its early years was in the field of archaeology. In 1976 BIPS opened its purpose-built centre in northern Tehran, designed by Reza Khazeni architects. The Tehran centre houses an extensive library that exceeds 40,000 English and Persian language volumes, journals and periodicals as well as epigraphic material, maps, photographic and fieldwork archives; a unique resource that is open to Iranian students, scholars and members of the public. It is thought to be the largest collection of English language volumes in Iran. The Tehran centre remains one of the few overseas institutes continuing to operate in Iran. It also houses a hostel for the use of visiting academics and students. BIPS is one of a small number of British International Research Institutes funded by the British Academy, the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences. BIPS is also a member organisation, with a worldwide membership, open to anyone with an interest in Iran and the Persianate world.

Create: Apr 26, 2021 Edit: Apr 26, 2021 Regional News

Tourism expected to rocket up in lesser-known Iranian province

Extra support for digital businesses and various travel branches could rocket up the tourism industry in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the provincial tourism chief has said. Digital businesses amid the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, which causes a major hit to the economic sectors including tourism, could help to increase the income of people active in this field, IRNA quoted Majid Safai as saying on Saturday. Considering the weather of the area and the farms of fish, saffron, silkworm, and ostrich as well as rice paddies scattered across the province, it has the potential to become a hub for agritourism and other new branches of tourism, the official added. Agritourism is a relatively new branch of the travel industry in which tourists stay with local people in rural areas. Farm/ranch recreation refers to activities conducted on private agricultural lands, which might include fee-hunting and fishing, overnight stays, educational activities, etc. To achieve this goal, residential units, echo-lodges, and tourist complexes need to be improved, he explained. He also noted that ongoing tourism-related projects need to be completed, while new investment packages are being defined to attract more investors to the region. While most of the activities in this field are on halt due to the coronavirus pandemic over the globe, virtual festivals and online tours could help to promote the tourist attractions of the province, he said. Last year, the official announced that the tourism sector of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province is prepared to improve quickly after the coronavirus crisis ends. He also noted that innovative plans and programs and various cultural festivals are being organized to attract tourists and travelers to the alluring destinations of the province. The lesser-known Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province is a cradle for nomadic life. Sightseers may live with a nomadic or rural family for a while or enjoy an independent stay and assist them with day-to-day life. It also opens up an opportunity to feel rustic routines, their agriculture, traditions, arts, and culture.

Create: Apr 25, 2021 Edit: Apr 25, 2021 Regional News

Land of ghosts: a journey to the 'Bermuda triangle' of Iran

Imagine traveling through a bizarre-shaded desert full of golden dunes that locals believe to be once home to evil spirits and demons, and for this reason, whoever steps on it will be swallowed up and never returns! That’s why the area is known as the "Bermuda triangle" of Iran! Eastern Iran is dominated by vast deserts known worldwide for adrenaline chasers. Rig-e Jenn assumed its name from whom believed that it was haunted by spirits and the devil. The bizarre desert can be reached after hours first on asphalt roads, and then for some hours through uninhabited terrain. Rig-Jenn is situated in a border area between Semnan and Isfahan provinces. In another world, it is part of Dasht-e Kavir (the central desert of Iran). The bizarre desert can be reached after hours first on asphalt roads, and then for some hours through uninhabited terrain. Narratives say that even caravans used to skip passing through Rig-e Jenn, believing it to be a place where evil spirits and “jinn” dwell. A “jinn” is a spirit in Islamic culture and Rig-e Jenn was once (and in some places still) believed to accommodate evil spirits! Even today, amongst the neighboring towns and villages some still hold this belief. Sources say that Sven Hedin, the famous Swedish desert explorer avoided the area during his 1900s travels to Iranian deserts and in the 1930s, Alfons Gabriel only managed to cross the southern ‘tail’ of the desert on his way from Ashin to Aroosan. According to Visit Iran, an official travel guide to the country, Rig-e Jenn marshes are among the most dangerous parts of this desert coming out of which is not easy so that it can even lead to death. But apart from these dangers, most of the statements about Rig-e Jenn are related to fiction. Locals believe in some fiction and stories that left many questions unanswered. However, the cause of most of these phenomena has today been recognized. For example, a sound is heard in the desert that is known as the Cry of Stone. The cause of this natural phenomenon is the expansion and contraction of stones and breaking them as a result of the temperature difference between day and night. However, you can enjoy, regardless of these fictions, an exciting journey to Rig-e Jenn. Also, you can experience attractive travel across the desert by off-road equipped vehicles or by motorcycle. One can also cross the desert barefoot and enjoy being touched by the hot sands of Kavir. If you want to stay for a night in this region observing the desert sky that is full of stars is highly recommended. If you still dare to visit Rig-e Jen (“Dune of the Jinn”), a name given to the mysterious desert by the locals, to have some adventure, you have to be careful about safety tips. Experienced adventurers say one should not choose this desert as their first hiking and trekking destination and they should not travel alone; it’s in the middle of nowhere and the only way to access it is by passing through a harsh train with almost no phone coverage. If you are planning to pay a visit, bear in mind that sometimes fierce winds howl throughout Rig-e Jenn voicing fears to passersby! People who have been there saying it feels almost like walking across an ocean floor without water. It is where eye-catching structures and shapes are only formed by constant winds blowing across vast areas of sand that can almost look unreal and “too” smooth. Those who set up camps are well rewarded when the sun sets. It’s the right time for a very bright moon and extremely vivid stars to show off in the absolutely clear sky of the desert. Like other deserts of the country, autumns and winters are the best time to travel to Rig-e Jenn. However, it is a must to carefully check the weather forecasts before traveling to this area. Finally, a feasible path through the Rig-e Jenn was found some years ago by trial and error using modern equipment such as 4WDs, maps, aerial photos, laptops, GPS devices, and aids.

Create: Apr 25, 2021 Edit: Apr 25, 2021 Regional News

Iran suspends all commercial flights with India and Pakistan over COVID-19 variant

Iran on Saturday announced the halt of all flights to and from India and Pakistan until further notice over a COVID-19 variant to avert its spread in the already-stricken country. Given the high numbers of COVID-19 cases detected in India and Pakistan, the Islamic Republic has decided to suspend all direct and indirect passenger flights with the two upon the request of the Health Ministry, Mehr reported on Saturday. The ban, which takes effect at midnight local time on Saturday according to Iran’s civil aviation organization, the report said. Health Minister Saeed Namaki has asked the interior minister to “halt the direct and indirect transport of travelers from India”, Iranian media reported. India on Thursday recorded the world's highest daily tally of 314,835 COVID-19 infections amid fears about the ability to crumble health services to cope.

Create: Apr 24, 2021 Edit: Apr 24, 2021 Regional News

324 eco-lodge units come on stream in Kerman

The director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Kerman province has said 324 eco-lodge units have been inaugurated in this province until the end of the past Iranian calendar year (March 19). In an interview with IRNA on Tuesday, Fereydoun Fa'ali added: "Last year, nine eco-lodge units were inaugurated, increasing the accommodation capacity of Kerman province. Also, 10 agreements in principle were issued to launch eco-lodge units." Referring to the efforts made to improve the quality of ecotourism services in the province, the official went on to say: "A short-term tourism course was held attended by 30 persons to empower local communities.” "Meanwhile, seven courses for the empowerment of tourism workers and five short-term tourism courses were held, in which 205 and 95 managers and employees of tourism facilities in this province attended, respectively", he continued. Building two hotels and an apartment hotel was one of the most important activities of the department in the last year, he said. “Moreover, 122,496 people visited tourist attractions of this province last year, of whom 3,434 were foreign tourists. The tourism industry has suffered a lot from the coronavirus, however, during the last year we tried to support the tourism sector against the damage caused by the pandemic. With seven world-registered monuments, 700 national monuments, and thousands of historical and natural attractions Kerman province is one of the important tourist destinations in the country.

Create: Apr 24, 2021 Edit: Apr 24, 2021 Regional News

Caravanserais, Asbads in South Khorasan eye World Heritage status

The process of preparing four caravanserais and Asbads (ancient vertical-axis windmills) in South Khorasan province is being carried out and the UNESCO assessors are projected to visit the sites by mid-May to register them in the World Heritage list. UNESCO assessors will travel to Iran for a final evaluation, and we hope to see the province's fifth property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list this year, Hassan Ramezani, director-general of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department of South Khorasan said on Wednesday, ILNA reported. Located in eastern Iran, South Khorasan province is home to many historical and natural attractions such as Birjand Castle, Dragon Cave, Furg Citadel, and Polond Desert. It is also known for its famous rugs as well as its saffron and barberry which are produced in almost all parts of the province. Asbad used to be a smart technique to grind grains. It also bears testimony to the human being’s adaption with nature by transforming environmental obstacles into opportunities. Iran plans to register a wide collection of its Asbads in different provinces on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The architectural spaces of these caravanserais include entrance porches, cells, docks, stables, water reservoirs, and the royal sitting hall, and in some caravanserais, impressive and very beautiful brick decorations have been used, and this architectural style and characteristics have made these works valuable." We are trying to prioritize the excavations of Kaleh Koob site in the form of joint studies with foreign groups through the Cultural Heritage Research Institute so that we can use modern Iranian methods in exploring this site." He explained the province's progress plans in the field of cultural heritage and said: "We have some research work in the field of very rich and valuable areas of South Khorasan which we continue them to reach a clear result. One of them is the ancient site of "Kaleh Koob" around the city of Sarayan, where we have done three seasons of archeological excavations so far, and there are artifacts and remains that date back to the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age.” He continued: "We are trying to prioritize the excavations of Kaleh Koob site in the form of joint studies with foreign groups through the Cultural Heritage Research Institute so that we can use up-to-date Iranian methods in excavating this site." He also pointed out that so far three seasons of archeological excavations and speculation operations have been carried out in the area of "Takhcherabad", noting: "During the study of architectural works and evidence obtained, in the opinion of many of my colleagues and experts and archaeologists, the antiquity of this hill, which is located around Birjand, can be traced back to the Median period in terms of architecture and history. Therefore, we definitely need to continue the exploration operations in this area so that we can achieve more accurate and scientifically sound results." Ramezani pointed out: "In the field of restoration, fortunately, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, and especially the Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Dr. Talebian, had a good view and also a good knowledge and domination of the historical capacities of South Khorasan, which has made us now one of the leading provinces in the field of buildings that are being restored with the participation of owners and the private sector, and we are even restoring a large number of historical buildings with the participation of owners and the private sector." The official underlined: "Following this process, a number of historical monuments in the province will be restored this year from our partnership funds. In addition, in the field of urban and rural historical textures, due to the number of nationally registered valuable textures, this year we will also see the continuation of restoration works in the walls of the passages, flooring, and restoration of single buildings in the area of historical textures." Ramezani also announced: "By mid-May, the process of launching the Museum of Clothing and Textiles of South Khorasan, which has been completed by the private sector at the historical house "Pardeli" in Birjand, and will be put into operation during the cultural heritage week."

Create: Apr 24, 2021 Edit: Apr 24, 2021 Regional News