Iran to pick 8 villages for UNWTO World Heritages Sites

TABNAK, Jan. 18 - The director general of Iran’s tourism development department at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has announced a major drive to secure international recognition for Iranian villages.

News ID: 7113

Date: 18 January 2026 - 11:14

Mostafa Fatemi told on Sunday that Iran is finalizing dossiers for 12 villages to meet the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) standards. He stated that the goal is to submit the nominations for eight of these villages to the UNWTO by May.

Following an initial screening of 100 potential sites, the list was narrowed down to 21, and now rests at 12 candidate villages, including notable locations like Riab in Razavi Khorasan Province and Pamenar in Khuzestan Province, he said, adding that Pamenar, in particular, shows high potential due to its strong tourism-based economy.

Key UNWTO criteria under scrutiny include tourism value chain, government priority, sustainability (social, economic, environmental), safety, infrastructure, and international connectivity, the official noted.

Fatemi added that infrastructural gaps, waste management issues, and limited presence on international platforms remain the main hurdles to global registration, Irna reported.

Despite challenges, the Ministry aims to elevate these sites, following the success of Kandovan (named Best Tourism Village in 2023) and Esfahak (2024).