Shahroud and Miandeh are Iran's 'Small Tourism Continent'

According to the reporter of Miras Arya, Ahmad Ajam on Thursday, May 20, 2026, at the second National Festival of Ecotourism hosted by Semnan Province in Shahroud, referring to the importance of the tourism industry, stated: The view of tourism should not be limited solely to the national framework; rather, a transnational approach should be taken to this field. This is because some areas of Shahroud and Miandeh counties, including the village of Qaleh Bala, have hosted foreign tourists even without extensive advertising. The representative of the people of Shahroud and Miandeh counties in the Islamic Consultative Assembly added that the government plays a facilitating role in the field of tourism: The development of ecotourism and tourism depends more than anything else on the efforts of activists in this field; individuals who, by utilizing local capacities, their art, and creativity, can introduce Iran to domestic people and then to foreign tourists. He considered the registration of the National Ecotourism Day and the holding of specialized gatherings in this field as a valuable action and said: The selection of Semnan Province and Shahroud County to host this national event indicates the extensive capacities of the region and the attention of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage to these capabilities. Ajam pointed out the concentration of the province's tourism capacities in eastern Semnan and stated: More than 60 percent of Semnan Province's tourism capacities are located in Shahroud and Miandeh counties, and this doubles the necessity of special attention in allocating budgets, facilities, and tourism infrastructure. The representative of the people of Shahroud and Miandeh counties in the Islamic Consultative Assembly considered tourism as one of the important drivers of the local economy and added: If this field is considered as an industry, it can play an effective role in generating household income, creating employment, and boosting small businesses. He referred to the diversity of natural and historical attractions in the region and said: The existence of Abr Forest, Turan National Park, historical caravanserais, World Heritage sites, and rare animal species such as the Asiatic cheetah have created a unique set of tourism capacities in this region. Ajam also pointed to the capacity of the region's handicrafts and added: The presence of thousands of artists in fields such as weaving, pottery, Kilim, and Jajim is a valuable opportunity for economic development, but the lack of specialized markets for product display is one of the serious challenges in this sector. The representative of the people of Shahroud and Miandeh counties in the Islamic Consultative Assembly further called for a review of some laws and regulations related to the field of tourism and said: The Islamic Consultative Assembly is prepared to cooperate in amending laws and facilitating the activities of activists in this field if expert proposals are submitted by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. He emphasized the necessity of utilizing the capacity of the private sector in tourism development and added: Given the limited government resources, the ground for the presence of investors and public participation in the implementation of tourism projects should be provided more than before. Ajam concluded by noting: Synergy between the government, parliament, and ecotourism activists can pave the way for a leap in tourism in this region and turn Shahroud and Miandeh into a prominent destination at the national and international level.