WANA (Jan 19) – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced that the dossiers of 12 villages are being finalised to select eight for nomination to the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) by May next year.

 

Seyed Mostafa Fatemi, Director General of Domestic Tourism Development, said the process began with 100 villages identified as having tourism potential and was gradually narrowed down after expert assessments and field visits.

 

The 12 shortlisted villages are:

  • Riab (Khorasan Razavi)
  • Qaleh Bala (Semnan)
  • Shaneh Tarash (Mazandaran)
  • Gisum (Gilan)
  • Mueil (Ardabil)
  • Pamenar (Khuzestan – Dezful)
  • Bisheh (Lorestan)
  • Anjadan (Markazi)
  • Mas (Isfahan)
  • Afin (South Khorasan)
  • Darak (Sistan and Baluchestan)
  • Marin (Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad)
The historic village of Kandolus in the Kojur region of Mazandaran, Iran . Social Media / WANA News Agency

The historic village of Kandolus in the Kojur region of Mazandaran, Iran. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Fatemi said UN Tourism assesses villages based on indicators such as sustainability, infrastructure, safety, governance and the tourism value chain.

 

He added that around 4,000 villages across Iran have been identified as tourism targets. Kandovan village in East Azerbaijan was named the world’s best tourism village in 2023, Esfahak in South Khorasan in 2024, and Kandolus (Mazandaran) and Sohaili (Hormozgan) were registered among Iran’s best tourism villages in 2025.

 

According to Fatemi, infrastructure weaknesses, environmental challenges, limited transport and financial services, and low international visibility remain the main barriers to global registration.

 

He also highlighted Pamenar village in Khuzestan as having strong potential for global recognition due to its tourism-based economy, natural setting and local handicrafts, provided remaining shortcomings are addressed in time.