Tourism Industry in Iran
Touristic villages network project in Iran
The villages’ axis in Iran

 
IRAN'S TOURISM INDUSTRY
 Over the last decade, the number of domestic tourists has increased on average between 5% and 10% each year. Based on the latest data released by ITTO (Iran Touring & Tourism Organization), the number of domestic tourism taking accommodation at various types of hotels and guesthouses throughout the country was 2,194,227 in 2001 and approximately 2,400,000 people in 2002. In recent years, unfortunately no data has been collected with regards to revenue generated by domestic tourism on an annual basis. Assuming that, domestic tourist stays on average for 5 days this result in 12 million tourist nights/year in 2002.
Despite the positive increase in the number of domestic tourists, Iran is still lacking a proper tourism infrastructure. Especially with regards to accommodation, the existing facilities satisfy by no means in quality and quantity demand. In this context it is important to note that Iran's hotel rating is not comparable with hotel ratings in European countries. Few high-class hotels have been built since the Islamic Revolution (1979). Thus, existing 4- and 5-star Hotels according to the Iranian rating system most probably would not qualify for the same category in developed countries.


  Touristic villages network project in Iran
  What is touristic village?
Touristic village is places of a province where these places or near these places have natural, cultural and historical attractions for tourists and these places need some touristic facilities, feasibilities and also suitable information for tourism. Touristic village is a center for local and international tourists for interstate, vocational and residing journeys to different tourism attractions in all over the state and it can be a center for residing and distributing the tourists in each province. So these centers must have all requirements and specifications for the tourists and those who spend their leisure time there. So building entertainment, sport, and residing, services, commercial and welfare spaces, which must conforming to international standards is anticipated for these places. Observing all ecological regards and constant development are other specifications that must be considered in the proposed plans. In this case we can have this confidence that these villages can have suitable output both economical and cultural. In the view point of the executors the best results of creating such villages can be achieved through following the strategies which their interest are directly referred to partners who are involved in creating, developing and accomplishing necessary works. This can be achieved through intelligent administrative and managerial systems. The goals that considered for the touristic villages are:
High quality of residing and life
Safe economy
Stability of environment
National and international popularity
 
Why touristic villages?
In the past two decades, the status of developing tourism shows that it is not possible to provide all urban spaces of province for accepting tourists and creating suitable places for security and relaxation of tourists, at least in future decade, so the bets and trusty way is to centralize the tourists in on area which have the more suitable facilities.

The aims of creating touristic villages
  1- Increasing the number of the province tourists
2- Increasing the public revenue by developing tourism
3- Increasing the jib opportunity
4- Activating the potential capacity of tourism in provinces of country
 		 5- Attracting private sector partnership in developing tourism
6- Increasing investing capital
7- Promoting the public services to tourists
 
  Investment opportunities in villages
Due to the function of most of the touristic villages creating the following sections and plans in the villages’ projects are implemented:
  The residential, receptional and service centers
Hotel
Motel
Residential villas complex
Restaurants
The required services for residents (travel agencies and shopping centers)

Cultural centers
Cinemas and theaters
Halls		 Entertaining centers
Sport spaces
Recreational clubs
Playgrounds for children
Recreational centers in jungles and picnic
Special routes for horse riding and cycling
Aquatic exercises
Coast facilities and
Recreational dock
Parks
 
   

The axels of villages in Iran
  By defining a network of touristic villages which can have standard and coordinated services tourism areas organization tries to have permanent customers for its projects. This net work has been formed in three axis if ALBORZ, ZAGROS and KAVIR that each one has its special specification.
 KAVIR axel: Passes through ISFAHAN, YAZD, KERMAN provinces and the two big deserts of “DASHTE KAVIR” and “LOUT KAVIR”, it is actually passing through the northwestern-southeastern axis that is a path between Europe to Pakistan and India. It is anticipated that this path will have more attraction for the European tourists.
 ZAGROS axel: A route in Iran north -south altitude which names ZAGROS and it passes through the KORDESTAN, KERMANSHAH, LORESTAN, CHAHAR MAHAL,FARS and BOUSHEHR provinces and it has specific attractions of Iran’s native-tribes life.
 ALBORZ axel: A route in east –west altitude of Iran which names ALBORZ and it passes through the AZARBAYJAN,GILAN,MAZANDARAN, GOLESTAN and KHIORASAN and currently has the main portion in Iran’s local tourism and more than 20 million people pass through this route yearly.