Second National Ecotourism Festival Held in Qaleh Bala Tourism Village with the Participation of Activists from Across the Country
The second National Ecotourism Festival was held with the extensive participation of managers of ecotourism accommodations nationwide, national and provincial officials, and accompanied by cultural and ritual programs in the tourism village of Qaleh Bala, Shahroud. This event, which officials described Qaleh Bala as only 'one step away' from global registration and becoming one of Iran's most important rural tourism destinations, was held in Qaleh Bala, a part of Biarjomand in Shahroud County. Attending this national event were Mohseni Bandpei, Deputy Minister of Tourism; Fatemi, Director General of Development... of ecotourism accommodations nationwide, and a group of officials and activists in the field of tourism. The tourism village of Qaleh Bala, located adjacent to...
According to the reporter of Mirath Arya, the second National Ecotourism Festival was held with the extensive participation of activists in the field of ecotourism and tourism from across the country, national and provincial officials, and with the performance of various cultural programs, local music, ethnic music, and traditional rituals in the tourism village of Qaleh Bala, a part of Biarjomand in Shahroud County.
Attending this national event were Mohseni Bandpei, the Deputy Minister of Tourism; Fatemi, the Director General of Domestic Tourism Development; Ajm, the representative of Shahroud and Mianeh in the Islamic Consultative Assembly; Hamid Dehrouyeh, the Deputy Coordinator of Economic Affairs of Semnan Governorate; Mohammad Hassan Asefari, the Special Governor of Shahroud and Deputy Governor; Jalal Tajik, the Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Semnan Province; managers of ecotourism accommodations from across the country; and a group of officials and activists in the field of tourism.
The tourism village of Qaleh Bala, located adjacent to the protected area and Turan National Park, has become one of the most important ecotourism destinations in the country in recent years and is now considered Iran's first choice for global registration by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
In the national ceremony of Ecotourism Day, speakers emphasized the unique natural, cultural, and social capacities of Qaleh Bala, considering this village on the verge of an international leap in rural tourism and announced that its global registration process has entered its final stages.
Officials present at this ceremony described the development of ecotourism as one of the most important tools for economic prosperity, preservation of cultural identity, and creation of sustainable employment in rural areas, and emphasized the necessity of supporting local communities and strengthening tourism infrastructure.
Furthermore, in this event, the diverse capacities of Semnan Province in the fields of nature tourism, rural tourism, handicrafts, and cultural tourism were introduced, and ecotourism activists from across the country exchanged experiences and discussed the challenges and opportunities in this field.
The second National Ecotourism Festival was held from May 19 to May 21, 2026, with the aim of creating a platform for dialogue among managers and operators of ecotourism accommodations, transferring successful experiences, examining capacities, and strengthening the connection among activists in this field, hosted by Semnan Province.
The holding of this national event in Qaleh Bala, in addition to further introducing the tourism capacities of the eastern part of Semnan Province, is assessed as an important step towards the global registration of this prominent village and the consolidation of Iran's position in the field of rural and ecotourism at the international level.
