Published on : Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Local authorities are aiming to boost travel to the enigmatic Karaftu caves and the neighboring Zivieh archaeological hill when tourism gets back on track in the post-pandemic era.
“Tourism infrastructure of the Zivieh ancient hill and Karaftu caves in the western Kordestan province needs to be strengthened to facilitate tourism for the post-corona era,” said the provincial tourism chief, Yaqub Guylian.
Before the pandemic struck, the number of tourists visiting these monuments was increasing, but sadly, after the pandemic, the number of visitors has declined noticeably.
The official said that allocating some funds for reviving and restoring these tourist spots would help in attracting domestic and foreign tourists to the region after the pandemic comes to an end eventually.
Constructing proper access paths, setting up eco-lodge units, establishing traditional restaurants and tourist camps around the sites in association with the private sector, would be supported, he stated.
Located 50 kilometers to Saqqez, the Zivieh ancient hill and castle was the residence of the Medes and Scythians and was considered their capital, with its history dating back to the first millennium BC.
Set on the side of a large cliff, 42 kms from Takab, the Karaftu cave group was used for habitation from early Sassanid times (224–651). The enigmatic caves are natural formations but were modified by inhabitants over the centuries.
Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan had warned earlier that Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism would face a serious condition if the crises caused by the pandemic continue.
The tourism minister said that the tourism sector of the Islamic Republic had suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials ever since the outbreak of the virus.
Tags: iran
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