Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization announced that incoming and outgoing travelers, medical tourists, historical monuments as well as 300 tour guides would be insured.
In an interview with Fars news agency, an advisor to ICHTO chief, Abdolhossein Nasseri, unveiled that the Iran Comprehensive Insurance Scheme for Tourists has been devised in line with the ninth convention of the World Tourism Organization.
The official said that a memorandum of understanding had been signed between ICHTO and Sina Insurance Company a few months ago to insure tourists entering the country.
Steps had also been taken to provide domestic travelers leaving abroad with insurance, he added.
Another memorandum of understanding for insuring domestic travelers who intend to visit other countries was proposed to ICHTO head, Esfandyar Rahim Mashaei, one week ago and is now awaiting final endorsement, the official noted.
He observed that covering domestic sightseers traveling abroad with a reliable insurance scheme helps them have a safe and calm stay oversees.
Karafarin Insurance Company, in addition to Sina Insurance Company, expressed its readiness to provide domestic sightseers with travel insurance, Nasseri said, adding there would be no limits in terms of the number of applicants.
He believes that the large number of domestic tourists requesting for the service would encourage more insurance firms to invest in the field.
The official stated that the destination and duration of stay have to be mentioned in the insurance policy.
Nasseri further noted that ICHTO would bring 300 to 400 tour guides under insurance. He added that insuring ancient monuments like Persepolis in Fars province, as well as Ali Qapu and Imam Mosque in Isfahan province is also on the agenda.
The official, who is also secretary of Medical Tourism Taskforce, stated that travelers visiting the country for medical treatment would be insured.
Such patients would be entitled to medical services similar to those provided to Iranians, once they sign a contract with a medical insurance company.

A view of Iran pavilion at the 40th ITB tourism and travel fair

Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) termed as satisfactory the condition of Iran’s tourism industry in 2005.
Speaking to IRNA in Berlin, Francesco Frangialli, who was attending the Internationale Tourismus-Borse (ITB), cited statistics based on which the Islamic Republic had had a prosperous year in terms of hosting tourists.
Top UN official predicted that the number of travelers visiting Iran would have a mounting trend.
He, however, expanded that foreign vacationers mostly come from regional countries to visit Iran.
UNWTO expects Iran to host tourists from non-regional states as well, the chief observed.
Highlighting that Iran enjoys numerous tourist-wooing potentials, Frangialli recalled that the World Tourism Organization had prepared a comprehensive plan for the country to flourish its tourism businesses.
Regretting that the plan had only partially come into force, the official reiterated that the country should tap its capabilities to develop the industry. He commended the works carried out so far in terms of infrastructure.
The UNWTO chief expressed hope that the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would make sure the plan is completely executed.
Frangialli insisted that more action be taken to improve welfare services in the Islamic Republic.
Recalling his visits to the country, the official stated he was familiar with Iran. He is of the opinion that should tourists have a chance to travel to the Islamic Republic and make a direct contact with its people, their mentality toward that country would change.
He vowed that UNWTO would help Iran with its marketing and advertising programs.
Meanwhile, Iran’s was ranked the second best pavilion at the 40th ITB tourism and travel fair, while the Zionist regime was given the first rank. Oman and Dubai pavilions followed Iran as third and forth.
Participants at the fair chose the best pavilions based on design, use of national and traditional symbols, music, the number of travel agencies and tourism companies as well as hospitability.
Berlin’s ITB tourism and travel fair which started on March 8, wrapped up on March 12.
Thirty eight private and state-owned firms and travel agencies from Iran took part at the 40th ITB exhibition.
Some of Iranian participants at the world’s biggest tourism and travel exhibit were the national airliner Iran Air, Azadi International Tourism Organization (AITO) and Mahan Air as well as several other Iranian tour operators and travel agencies.
More than 10,500 exhibitors from 183 countries were present at the fair held in the German capital.

Chal Nakhjir Cave is located in the heart of Ardehal Mountain. The rare geological site which is in the city of Delijan has been registered as the Markazi province’s first natural heritage.
The cave is known for its exceptional white dolomite sediments, covering its floors and major corridors. The floor and the walls are bristled with crystallized minerals. Coupled with picturesque pools and pathways, these features turn the cave into one of the most exotic caverns in the Middle East. It is also a rich reserve of decorative stones.
If you proceed 140 meters into the cave, there lies a beautiful lake within a depth of 70 meters from the entrance. The lake is large enough to accommodate small boats.
The best time to visit the Markazi province is early fall, when it gradually starts getting cooler and the pomegranate orchards, sunflower farms, and gardens are in full bloom.
The cave has already undergone a development project for lighting and floor preparation.
Since 2002 over $5 million has been spent on lighting and flooring of the cave. The lighting scheme is so subtle that visitors can’t detect the light source, but all natural attractions are well-lit. The main feature of the flooring is the minimum use of non-local construction materials to preserve the originality of the age-old cave.
The cave can serve as an exceptional site for tourists.

Tourists at a seashore in Gilan province

Gilan province boasts over 70 tourism potentials expanding from the Caspian Sea coasts and countryside to the mountainside and including historical regions such as Masouleh and Roudkhan Fortress.
Making the remarks, deputy director of Gilan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department referred to over 270 km of picturesque seashores and rare flora species such as Lilium lederbourii as other local attractions, IRNA reported.
Bijan Zahab mentioned the province’s proximity to Central Asian states, accessibility from northwest, central and northeast routes, and its international airport as important features in promoting local tourism.
Zahab noted that Gilan could obtain a 10-percent share of the country’s tourism figures over a 20-year perspective. “This, however, requires that investors step in to help promote the industry,“ he stated.
He said migration of birds from Gilan wetlands starts in late March.
He gave assurances that although a limited number of wild migratory birds had been infected with the H5N1 virus strain, no cases of human infection with avian flu virus had been reported. “So people can travel to the province without any worries,“ he stated.
He recalled that between three and 3.5 million holidaymakers had entered the province last year (ended March 2005).
Zahab referred to the cities of Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Masouleh and Lahijan as the most popular tourism destinations in Gilan.
He added that a brochure containing the provincial map and city guide for Rasht, Anzali and Lahijan, as well as geographical information and tourism attractions had been published for the welfare of visitors.

Chaharsouq Dome in Saveh, Markazi province The monument dates back to Safavid era. (IRNA Photo)

Afghanistan, Rwanda or East Timor may not top most holiday destination lists, but the war-scarred countries are now trying to appeal to adventure tourists keen to spy gorillas in the wild, or take a tour led by a former guerrilla, AFP reported.
Marketing executives at the International tourism Fair (ITB) in Berlin admitted they faced a challenge selling former conflict zones as vacation spots, but said even marginal success could mark a new beginning for the countries.
“The past is the past and the future is now“ reads the slogan on a glossy travel brochure about Rwanda, displayed at a colorful stand staffed by men in flowing African robes.
Although Rwanda is synonymous for most Europeans with the 1994 massacre in which 800,000 people were killed in the span of 100 days, the country sees tourism, primarily driven by gorilla photo safaris, as a path toward economic redevelopment.
Meanwhile East Timor, which has a bloody legacy of Indonesian occupation in which more than 100,000 Timorese are believed to have died, is also undergoing a campaign to revamp its image.

Director of Varamin Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department pointed to the city’s cultural, historical and pilgrimage attractions, and highlighted its potentials for developing ecotourism and nature sightseeing.
Pointing to historical monuments such as Bahram Palace, Alaeddin Tower and Touraj Fortress, Akbar Soltanian told ISNA that attracting cultural tourists is of special significance for the department.
He added holy shrines in Varamin, 40 kilometers away from Tehran, prepare suitable grounds for promoting pilgrimage tourism.
Soltanian said devising programs to develop agro-tourism is the third priority of his department to draw more tourists to the town.
“Given the short distance between Varamin and the capital Tehran, we are trying to develop agricultural tourism particularly for the next spring and summer,“ he said, hoping to transform Varamin into an agro-tourism hub with the cooperation of Agriculture Jihad Ministry.
According to Soltanian, there are exemplary farmlands and 1,200 hectares of gardens and parks as well as 2,000 hectares of pistachio gardens in Varamin, boosting its potentials for agro-tourism.
Underscoring Varamin’s ecotourism features, the official said Kavir National Park, which hosts rare animal species such as the Asiatic Cheetah, is another natural phenomenon that can portray positive prospects for the town’s tourism programs.
On tourism infrastructure, Soltanian said primary agreements for the expansion of accommodation centers and travel agencies had been concluded, adding the first hotel of the town named Shayan Hotel would soon become operational.
Varamin is one of the most important agricultural zones of the country with 70,000 hectares of land capable of producing a rich variety of plants and farm crops.

Senior managers of Studiosus Reisen, a German tour operator that specializes in educational tours, are in town to train German-speaking tour leaders.
In an interview with ISNA, head of the institute’s tours, Ernest Kellenberger, observed that although Iran enjoys the same tourism potentials as its neighboring countries, foreign travelers are reluctant to visit the country.
He believes that should the country do its best to ensure a safe and pleasant stay for foreigners, more people would be encouraged to travel to Iran.
Kellenberger termed as important the role of security in increasing the number of tourists, especially ever since the September 11 attacks.
He insisted that tour guides can be helpful in offsetting black propaganda against the country.
Specialized tourism firms are unwilling to arrange tours to Iran under the influence of negative propaganda by mainly European and American media, Kellenberger said.
He is of the opinion that the government should try to help change that image and replace it with a positive mindset.
Kellenberger stated that foreign travelers who visited Iran found it interesting since the day of arrival and even its capital, Tehran, which had no outstanding fascinations. They enjoy their stay in the ancient country despite the existing shortfalls.
Turning to tour leaders, Kellenberger noted that since Iranian tour guides are not updated with international standards, they are unable to render quality services to travelers.