No.2291,Monday,8 March,2021

The Iranian government has paid some 20 billion rials (about $476,000 at the of- www.TOURISMpaper.com ficial exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in loans to the tourism businesses The World`s Only Print Tourism Newspaper affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the western province of Lorestan. The province’s tourism industry has taken 1.2 trillion rials ($28.5 million) hit from the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) so far, the deputy provincial tourism chief, Es- Over $470,000 Paid kandar Fallahvand, said on Friday. Furthermore, he noted that 1,200 people work- to Support ing in the province’s tourism sector have lost their jobs during the pandemic. Lorestan is a region of raw beauty that an avid nature lover could spend weeks Tourism Businesses exploring. in Lorestan 4

cooking Ghotab Affordable Prices Ghotab or Qottab is a traditional Iranian sweet nugget cake. Ghotab is filled with walnuts and deep fried in vegetable oil. Ingredients: Expected to Bring Back Boom ■ 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour ■ 1/2 Cup Sugar ■ 1/2 Cup Sugar ■ 1 Cup Plain Yogurt into Tourism ■ 1/2 Cup (2 oz / 57g) Walnuts ■ 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil (Approx. 100g) he reasonable prices of considering the facilities they nounced that international ■ 1 Egg Iran tours are expected can get at cheaper prices than tourist arrivals to Iran plunged ■ 1/2 Tsp Ground Cardamom T to bring back the boom in other countries. 72% during the first eight ■ 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon into the tourism sector of the Referring to health tourism as months of 2020 when com- ■ 1 Tsp Baking Powder country in post coronavirus a popular branch in Iran, he pared to 2019, highlighting the ■ 1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar (Confection- era, the head of the Iranian noted that medical services in severe impact of COVID-19 as ers sugar) Tour Operators Association Iran are provided at a lower the main factor. Half a Million has said. price than what may be of- Cultural Heritage, Tourism, “Attractive tour plans are also fered at double the price in and Handicrafts Minister Ali- Hyrcanian Saplings being being prepared for those who other countries. Back in Janu- Asghar Mounesan in October are eager to explore the his- ary, the official announced that warned that Iran’s cultural her- Planted in Mazandaran torical attractions and natural the tourist flow from across itage and tourism will be in a wonders of the ancient coun- the world to Iran will return to critical situation if the crises n the occasion of National Tree Planting Day, try and want to experience a normal in 2022. Although there caused by the outbreak of the some half a million saplings endemic to Hyrcan- vacation here,” Ebrahim Pour- are requests for traveling to coronavirus continue. O ian forests are being planted across the northern faraj said on Thursday. Iran in the current year (2021), Last August, Mounesan said province of Mazandaran, IRNA reported on Friday. He also expressed hope that most travel agencies and tour that Iran’s tourism has suf- The National Tree Planting Day is annually celebrated international tour operators operators believe that the flow fered a loss of 12 trillion rials on the fifteenth day of the last month on the Iranian cal- and companies who have will go back to normal in the (some $2.85 bil- lion) since Directions: endar month of Esfand, which usually corresponds with worked with their Iranian coun- next year, he explained. the outbreak of 1- Combine 1/2 cup vegetable oil and March 5. This day is the first day of Natural Resources terparts for years, Beginning mass vaccination the coronavirus sugar in a large bowl. Week, which is celebrated March 5 to 12. would put Iran back against the coronavirus will pandemic. 2- Add plain yogurt, add an egg to the Hyrcanian or Caspian ecological zone on the world’s provide better and safe condi- bowl and continue stirring until well mixed. The Hyrcanian ecological zone covers the green belt, travel route tions for international travels in 3- In a separate container mix flour and the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, and the north- again, 2022, he added. baking powder and gradually add to the ern profile of the Alborz mountain range. The forested Last November, the World mixture while whisking. areas of the region stretch to 2.4 million hectares cov- Tourism Organization an- 4- Knead the batter for 5 minutes or so. ering Astara in Gilan province to Glidaghi in Golestan 5- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid province. Due to soil fertility, temperature changes, and and allow to rest for an hour. numerous rainfalls, this ecological area is rich in plant FILLING species, so that more than 80 species of broadleaf 6- Grind walnuts in a grinder. Add ground trees, 4 species of conifers, and 50 species of shrubs cardamom, ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup have been identified so far, most of which are beech, of sugar and continue grinding/mixing. hornbeam, oak, maple, and alder. 7- Roll out the dough on a well floured The forests of this region, as an intact and healthy gen- working surface. eration, form a belt of deciduous trees of the third geo- 8- Using a large round shaped cookie cut- logical period. These forests, which are called wet or ter, cut out the batter, add the walnuts fill- Caspian forests, have high environmental and economic ing and seal the top to make a small ball values, which are considered as world natural heritage. shape. Northern forests save 3.6bcm of water annually 9- Deep fry the nuggets in vegetable oil. The forests of northern Iran save 3.6 billion cubic meters 10- Place them back onto a napkin to get of water annually, playing an important role in preserving rid of the excessive oil. the aquifers. 11- Dip the nuggets in powdered sugar. Sassanid-era Arch Bridge Restoration Work Cheshmeh-Ali Gains Natural Heritage Status Completed he historical, cultural, and recreational site Cheshmeh-Ali, literally meaning Spring of Ali, em- of Cheshmeh-Ali, which is situated south of braces an underground mineral stream that pours T the Iranian capital, has been named a natu- into an open-air pool that has long been a destina- ral heritage amidst hopes to safeguard it for the next tion for sightseers and a recreational center for the generations. “In a [follow-up] meeting held today, locals. During the summertime, the site is occupied Cheshmeh-Ali was added to the natural heritage list by hundreds of locals who came for swimming and of the country…,” Parham Janfeshan, the tourism having fun. chief of province, told IRNA on Wednesday. Cheshmeh-Ali is in the neighborhood of the ancient The new entry, however, does not include Chesh- Ebn-e Babveyh cemetery, the 12th-century Tughrul meh-Ali’s surrounding archaeological lands, which Tower, the historical Rashkan Castle, and next to had previously been inscribed on the national cul- the aged Rey Castle. Another attraction of the site is tural heritage list of the country, the official added. a 19th-century rock-carved relief that overlooks the Cultural and natural heritage advocates believe the pool. The artwork was commissioned by the Qajar inscription would help the site to receive better care king Fath Ali Shah who reigned from 1797 to 1834. and maintenance to preserve that for future genera- Cheshmeh Ali also contains an archaeological site tions. A couple of years ago, the water-flow shrined estimated to date from the 4 millennium BC. dramatically, prompting voices of dissatisfaction Rey was one of the capital cities of the Parthian faience (glazed earthenware). It continued to be an over the fate of the ancient site. Officials and cul- empire (3rd century BC–3rd century CE) and it was important city and was briefly a capital under the project to restore and reinforce Pol-e Shapuri, tural heritage enthusiasts repeatedly warned about captured by the Muslim Arabs in 641 CE. During the rule of the Seljuqs, but in the 12th century, it was a Sassanid-era arch bridge in western Iran, has the vanishing spring with some blaming the Tehran reign of the Muslim caliph al-Mahdi in the 8th cen- weakened by the fierce quarrels of rival religious A been completed. “The restoration and strength- Urban & Suburban Railway Operation Co., saying tury, the city grew in importance until it was rivaled sects. In 1220 the city was almost destroyed by the ening works on Shapuri bridge, which is one of the the problem arises from a tunnel construction. Nar- in western Asia only by Damascus and Baghdad. Mongols, and its inhabitants were massacred. Most architectural masterpieces of Lorestan province, were ratives say that the locals used to clean their rugs in According to Britannica, Islamic writers described of the survivors of the massacre moved to nearby carried out by experienced masters using traditional the pool, believing that the properties of the mineral it as a city of extraordinary beauty, built largely of Tehran, and the deserted remnants of Rey soon fell building materials,” the provincial tourism chief, Seyyed water make the rugs brighter in color. fired brick and brilliantly ornamented with blue into complete ruin. Amin Qasemi, announced on Wednesday. Named after the Sassanid King Shapur I (reigned 241 CE–272), the bridge has 28 arches (of which only 6 remain) and 27 pile bridges, each 61 square meters; five of its arches are intact and the others have been destroyed by nat- Handwoven Carpets Depicting Tourist ural factors. The arches of the bridge have been con- structed of stone, whereas the bridge itself is a mixture Destinations Unveiled in Kashan of stone and mortar. The monument is registered on the list of national cultural heritage as well. Lorestan, wo handwoven carpets, which depict arrays of significant tourist destinations of Kashan, which is a region of raw beauty, was inhabited by Iranian have been unveiled in the central Iranian city. Indo-European peoples, including the Medes, c. 1000 T Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan was amongst BC. Cimmerians and Scythians intermittently ruled the attendees to the unveiling ceremony of the carpets, which was held on Tuesday night. region from about 700 to 625 BC. The Luristan Bronzes One of the carpets is set to go on show at the museum of the UNESCO-registered Fin Garden noted for their eclectic array of Assyrian, Babylonian, in Kashan while the other will be put on show at the headquarters of the ministry, IRNA re- and Iranian artistic motifs, date from this turbulent pe- ported. The richly manicured and historical garden together with eight other counterparts have riod. Lorestan was incorporated into the growing Achae- been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list under the title of “The Persian Garden.” menid Empire in about 540 BC and successively was Kashan not only boasts a cluster of architectural wonders, an atmospheric covered bazaar, and part of the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid dynasties. a UNESCO-recognized garden, but it also offers some of central Iran’s best traditional hotels.