Iran Travel, Tourism Blog

Shiraz Panoramic night view

2018-10-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

this is from @shimaro steemit account: https://steemit.com/creativity/@shimaro/creativity-out-of-the-waste

creative ideas may be very cheap and low cost to implement, or very expensive and luxurious.
in both cases, a creative job, impresses everyone.

the above washing sinks were amazing, in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of the mountains, above the city. there were two lifts taking you high there, with a suspended bridge which I assume loads of money has spent to construct, still the simple idea of sinks, impressed me more.

enjoy the view.

Shiraz city, Iran - Bakooyeh restaurant

Photography in travel

2018-03-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

When you are travelling, one of the most incredible experiences can be photography.

but don't forget to:

not to flash in historical places and museums
enjoy the moments itself as you capture them
not to include people's faces
get permission in special case and places

enjoy your trip :)

Kish island, a state of permanent peace, in Persian Gulf

2017-03-26T03:29:00.005-07:00

writing about kish island is not very easy! there are too many informative websites online about it and I just don't wanna be another copy cat in the cloud! but the pearl of Persian Gulf is not easy to avoid to write about too!

Kish coast and sea sides are amazing. soft sand beaches with
almost 330 days of sunshine! photo by Emad Honarparvar

Kish is a 91 sq kilometer resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is in Hormozgān Province of Iran, which its capital is Bandar Abbas. Owing to its free trade zone status it is considered as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centers, environment/sports/eco and business tourist attractions, and resort hotels. More than 1 million people visit the island annually, and high seasons are in March and April, when the Norouz holidays are (Persian Calendar new year).
Almost all the holidays in Iran, people travel to Kish island, for sea sports like Cable Ski, Parasailing, water ski, ski jet, scuba diving etc
there are also almost all around the year, concerts and music festivals with major Iranian singers and music bands. There are also many restaurants with live music performances.
For business people, there are events like exhibitions and conferences, which need to enjoy a state of relaxation and coziness, comparing large cities like Tehran.

How to get there?

Greek ship in south coast. photo by Emad Honarparvar

you can travel to Kish Island by car or on airplane. to get there by car, you need to drive to Charak Port in Hormozgan province (Bandar Charak - 26°43′50″N 54°16′29″E) and from there, you can ship your car on the vessel to Kish island. No caravans are allowed on the vessel, the cost of a car is around 80 USD and every passenger around 9 USD (so a car with two passengers is about 100 bucks)

you can stay in the island with your car about 5-10 days (depends on the dates) and this period is renewable.Google maps and Google Traffic services work inside the island so you don't worry to find your way anywhere in the small beautiful island.

The Kish airport has flights to all major cities and airports in Iran, plus some international flights to Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, India and Philippine.

Need a Visa?
No entry visa is required for Kish island. Foreign nationalities don't need entry visa at the authorized arrival and departure points in Kish Island. At Kish International Airport, the officials may take your photograph, fingerprints, and stamp your passport, allowing you to stay up to 14 days in the Island. If you are western, you may be asked about the purpose of your visit. Make sure you bring all verification paperwork including hotel reservations with phone numbers, etc.

Dariush Hotel is one of the most expensive and luxury hotels
in the island. Photo from Wikipedia

Accommodation and Hotels
With many beautiful landscapes, no wonder why Kish Island was ranked among the world’s 10 most beautiful islands by The New York Times in 2010, and is the fourth most visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia. With such facts, no wonder you will find many luxury hotels in the island, beside budget accommodation and cheap hotels as well.
Kish Island has a range of nice villas, hotels, and guest houses for tourists.
Hotel reservations can be made through travel agencies in the mainland or in other countries (but it would be more expensive) or be done on websites like booking.com or hotels.com with applied discounts on rates and costs.

the budget for a hotel can vary from 30 to hundreds of USD per night. Toranj hotel is the most expensive hotel in the island, with up to 900 USD per night for staying Imperial Suite for four persons. the hotel is located in the sea.

Internet and mobile operators
you can enjoy internet on your sim card, if you have a roaming service from most of the operators worldwide; though it may be a bit pricy.
you can also buy an Iranian pay as you go sim card from: MCI, MTN-Irancell or Taliya
cost of sim card around 8 USD and data less than 10 USD per month for a 8Mbps 4G+ or LTE subscription

Masouleh in Gilan Province, Iran

2016-08-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

An incredible choice! MASOULEH is one the most visited places in Iran by Iranian and Foreigners. It is about history, Eco-tourism, sports, relaxation and Culture. I will expand these issues about Masouleh in this post in abstract. but first, where it is and how to get there?

the panoramic view of the beautiful Masouleh, Iran

Where is Masouleh?
Masouleh is a small city (I prefer to say a village) in Fouman (Fuman) county in Gilan Province of Iran. less than 1000 people are living in Masouleh. the city has at least 2000 years of history.
60 km south west of Rasht city

The local old Bazar of Masouleh. Handicrafts and local food

The altitude, the elevation:
The city's altitude is 1000 meter, in the mounts of Alborz. but the significant thing is the city enjoys a 100 meter elevation in itself! this gives Masouleh spectacular view and sight.

The river and the waterfall
Masouheh River is the river passing through the village, with a waterfall located in the north of the village. It's cut-off by snow during the winter months. Fog is the predominant weather feature of Masuleh and creates even more beautiful views.

How to get there?
first travel to Tehran Imam Khomeini airport, near Tehran. from Tehran you can get to Rasht city by Autobus (around 10 USD per person) or by airplane (around 45 USD per person) or by car (5 hours driving from Tehran)

from Rasht there are buses or cars which takes people to Masouleh. (1 hour)

also from almost all the cities in Iran, you can find Tours to Masouleh.

Accommodation:
There are some hotels and motels near the city, but I strongly recommend you to take local houses for accommodation. the city is very safe, don't worry about robbery or other crimes, but it is still wise not to take so much money with yourself. the cost o
f a room with air condition in the upper areas of the city is around 40 USD per night (2 persons)

Trust me this spices up your trip more than a hotel! Local houses of Masouleh

The Attractions of Masouleh:

My roof is your yard!

Masouleh is a historical village, which still has all the aspects of its old life. it seems the time has stopped in this city in many aspects. also there is Ghaleh Roudkhan tower one hour driving from the city which worth a visit.
There are many Eco Tourism attractions close to the city. Famous forests of Gilan, Alborz mountain, the water fall and the river.
Sport activities related to mounts and the river are also very popular.
The Architecture and the local Bazar are the cultural attractions of Masouleh.
The spectacular architecture of Masouleh is popularly known as "The yard of the building above is the roof of the building below"

time to visit Iran?

2015-10-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Iran is a great country in many aspects:

it is one of the largest countries in the world (17th in the world)
it has one the largest varieties of tribes
many Sport attractions in mountains, deserts, rivers etc
you can have sea, mountains, deserts, forests and rivers in one country
one of the most ancient civilizations with historical sights
distinguished location in world business and economic map

33 Arcs (sio-se pol), Isfahan, Iran

there are even more:
Iran has a great attraction for cosmetics surgery and medical tourism
Iran has a vast agriculture attraction for investors
Iran is a logistic hub for transportation and freight network
.....

and what's new about this country?
the propaganda for this country is over! Iran is now safer than before for European and western traveler.

if you wish to visit Iran and you just wonder which cities can be better options, take a look at our blog history.

off road tour and camping in Iran, Taar and Havir lakes

2015-06-15T22:50:00.002-07:00

30 kilometers away from Damavand city, if you drive in to the heart of the Alborz mountains, there would be Taar and Havir lakes, like two sisters close to each other! sleeping beauty in peace.
The road to Taar and Havir lakes is completely a dirt road, going through rivers and mountains, so it can be a supper attractive destination for off road camping as well.

Taar Lake, Damavand, Iran

the surface of the lake in the winter may cover by a thin layer of ice. but it hasn't been tested for sport activities like ice skating. the vegetation of Tar and Havir lakes are just like other southern parts of Alborz mountains, the two lakes are guarded and surrounded by higher altitudes, and two notable Dobaraar and Zarrin Kouh mounts.

The Alborz mountains, guarding Taar and Havir lakes

on the way to Taar and Havir lakes, you will enjoy the scenes and views of Alborz mountains.

Safety issues:
the lakes' coasts are guarded by police all the time, so it will be safe for camping. but the roads, especially in winter time, can have no other passengers, so mind your vehicle's safety, mostly breaks, wheels and spare wheel and the steering system.
the total area has been reported secure and safe, but it is recommended not to go through the roads in the night. so plan your tip to pass the 30 km road trip in the sun light.

the road is unpaved and only one vehicle width

A spring comes out of the mountain's heart

how to get there?
Taar lake geographical dimensions: N354344 E521340
Havir lake geographical dimensions: N354357 E521440

to go there, you can go from Damavand city, Arab Chenaar village, Ma'dan road (mine road), go the dirt road to the end

or

from Tehran to Firouzkouh road, 98kilometer from Tehran, after Delichay village, pass the Li Posht, Moomaj, Dehnar and Havir villages to reach the lake.

What to bring?
camping facilities, like tents, tools, sleeping bags and canned food.
you can light fire to cook. the temperature can be low even in spring and fall. the sun light is very strong though and need sun protection creams, sunglasses and caps.
the night can be very cold even in summer time.
You will find no stores and groceries there (except the villages you pass through with small shops) so buy whatever you may need from Tehran or Damavand.
in the villages you can buy organic eggs, fresh milk or meet.

Full Moon watching, spiritual and fun

2015-01-06T23:50:00.002-08:00

For a very long time, watching the full moon was a tradition, a time to celebrate and gathering for people of different nations. among the civilizations, Japanese and Indian are mostly known for cherishing the full moon. Japanese people have a tradition called Tsukimi or Otsokimi. Tsukimi refers to Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon, a version of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese solar calendar; the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month. These days normally fall in September and October of the modern solar calendar.

Full Moon in Tehran, a partly cloudy night in Shemiran

The tradition dates to the Heian era, and is now so popular in Japan that some people repeat the activities for several evenings following the appearance of the full moon during the eighth lunisolar month.

Tsukimi traditions include displaying decorations made from Japanese pampas grass (susuki) and eating rice dumplings called Tsukimi dango in order to celebrate the beauty of the moon. Seasonal produce are also displayed as offerings to the moon. Sweet potatoes are offered to the full moon, while beans or chestnuts are offered to the waxing moon the following month. The alternate names of the celebrations, Imomeigetsu　(literally "potato harvest moon") and Mamemeigetsu ("bean harvest moon") or Kurimeigetsu ("chestnut harvest moon") are derived from these offerings.

In Iran there is a mixing culture from the ancient Persia with Hindu traditions and even western beliefs on Full Moon event.

I Cherish the moon every night, I believe finding the beauty in every moment of your life is the only way you can claim you had enjoyed your life! but the full moon is indeed inspiring in a very different way. specially if you have the chance to view it in a partly cloudy night, every time the moon shows off, you get surprised how beautiful she is.

Next Full Moon in Tehran: Wednesday * 4th February 2015

for a full moon calendar go to this address: http://www.moongiant.com/Full_Moon_New_Moon_Calendar.php

Kashanak and Darband Mountains, North of Tehran - IRAN

2014-10-21T01:14:00.001-07:00

Tehran is a city at 1400 meter altitude as an average. I live in a part of Tehran which has an altitude of 1750m above free sea levels. and I believe the most beautiful thing about Tehran (along with many ugly facts in my home-town!) is the presence of Alborz mountains which are covered by snow almost 8-9 months a year. this reminds many one thing: Skiing in Tehran would be great! I wrote before on Ski resorts in Tehran like Shemshak, Tochal and Dizin.

Tochal mount is about 4000 m altitude and it features a Hotel at 5th stop (I have heard it's the highest altitude for a hotel in the world but I am not sure) which I resided one night and it was a great experience. Tochal Ski resort may not be the most recommended ski resort (because of its small field) but is very popular among Tehrani young skiers with just minutes from their homes!

in the north of Tehran, you have old villages which are attached to modern Tehran as a part of city and not as suburbs. Darakeh, Darband, Niyavaran, Kashanak and Daar-abad are among them.

This is Tehran's view from Kashanak mountains, 2400m altitude

going to mountains for people of Tehran is considered as sport, hobby, picnic and even dining! with many beautiful restaurants in Darband and Darakeh districts, you will enjoy a lunch or dinner (even breakfast) in high altitudes with mountain views.

a Panoramic view of Darband vally

Another beautiful fact about all these incredible mounts above Tehran, is you can climb up one and come down from another! for this you have to leave your car at ones footage ofcourse and also you may need to spend a full day climbing and walking (8-12 hours)

here are some possible routes:
climbing up Kolak Chaal and coming down from Darband
climbing up Kolak Chaal and coming down from Tochal
climbing up Kashanak and coming down from Tochal

how to get there:
Darband: from Tajrish square with one taxi route
Kolak Chaal: from Niavaran sreet, Feizieh (Jamshidieh) avenue
Kashanak and Dar Abad: from Niavaran square (Niavaran Palace) with one bus or Taxi route
Darakeh: from Parkway (Chamran) crossing with Vali Asr strees with Taxi

what to wear: in Spring and Fall the weather can be warm, chilling and raining. in Summer it can go extremely hot (40 degrees!) and in winter it can go below zero easily (minus 10 or -20)

Ghalaat (Qalaat) village, ancient beauty in Iran

2014-09-26T02:58:00.001-07:00

one of the most pleasant trips you can make in Iran, is heading to lovely city of Shiraz. understanding why Shirazi people are so calm and warm-hearted, lies in the way they live! Shirazi culture is seriously mixed with the philosophy "life is short, enjoy the moment"

Qalaat village - I call this picture: windows to blue sky

for living the moment, Shirazi citizens often go to suburbs and near villages or areas, calling Baagh (garden). and Qalaat (Ghalaat) is one of the most famous and top destination, especially for those who live in North - North West of Shiraz.
The Village is almost 20 miles from Shiraz, toward North-West. Qalaat has a history for over 2600 years, still enjoying beautiful ancient memorials, like a church called Glory of Christ, survived from Ghajar period, surrounding with nice gardens. the village has less than 300 residents in roughly 70 families, mostly serving the tourist come to the village from Shiraz and Jahrom city.

In Ghalaat you can find some handicrafts and souvenirs from Persia and Fars province. like Kilims, knitted and woven bags and shoes, wood crafted artworks etc. there are two rivers passing the village called Shab Shotori and Cheshmeh Anjiri with many beautiful springs heading toward them and three amazing waterfalls. best time to see all these is in May and June.

Qalaat Village

I took these pictures in March. so don't worry about the weather, it will be hot in the summer.

Tehran Property prices are EXPENSIVE or not?!

2014-09-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Is Tehran an expensive city to live in? in this post, I check some indexes and share some facts, with a focus on Property prices and costs, since it's swallowing the majority of Iranian household income.

Why house prices rise globally? what was the case in Tehran?
land resources are obviously scarce!
is this the only reason prices rise? The most important reason for this crisis is that we have been drastically restricting the amount of land available in Tehran, for housing since it was chosen as Iran's capital. Furthermore, after the revolution back in 1979, new policies and strategies led to dramatic immigration of people from farms, countries and villages or small towns in to the bigger and larger cities for more opportunities on employment and seeking a better quality of Life.
These are problems of market failure and land markets fail more than most, so they need regulation, which is what planning should do. But regulation needs to be informed by an understanding of how markets work. The problem is that our planning system seems to proceed as if it can entirely suspend the laws of supply and demand.

cost of living in Tehran...?
a couple living in mid-level style in Tehran needs:
350 USD per month rent (it can go as high as 2000+ USD per month for a two bedroom apartment)
200 USD per month for markets
100 USD per month to dine out once in a week (4 times a month)
100 USD per month transportation
50 USD per month utilities

I quit trips, vacations, sports, entertainments, parties, clothing extras etc

so they both need to have roughly 800 USD per month.
now more statistics and facts to know:

minimum wage in Iran is 200 USD per month
a 5 years experienced engineer or BS holder works for 350 USD per month
a 15 year experienced engineer or BS holder works for 500 USD per month

so they have to work hard both to live in a very simple mid-level life style with no extras!

luxury properties in Tehran
the price of an apartment in Tehran can vary from 1000 USD per sqm to 12,000 USD per sqm!

North of Tehran - apartments: 5000 - 7000 USD per sqm
Villas from 5 - 25 Million USD

Kamraniyeh - apartments: 7000 - 10,000 USD per sqm

France, Royan - a 4 bedroom Villa for 400 USD per sqm
400,000 USD for 1000 sqm plot and 240sqm villa

what's next?! where the prices are going to?
Iran and specifically Tehran's real estate market shows up with a boom every 5 or 6 years. this has been always like that in last half decade.
it seems that the market will have a smooth rise fitting the inflation rate only in 2015, till 2016 summer. then the prices have the potential again to racket up again.

Shiraz, a city to love, a culture to live

2014-08-03T00:44:00.005-07:00

Shiraz is one of the oldest cities in Iran, also one among most five populous and largest cities in Iran. almost located n the southern part of Iran, close to Persian Gulf and laying in the foothills of Zagros Mountains, roughly 900 km away from the Capital Tehran.

but these are just numbers and stats! Shiraz is a city to love, not to count! Shiraz has been defined by more than 2500 years of history and culture, since the Achaemenid Empire and Dynasty ruled Shiraz or Pars province to be capital of their Empire.

Shahcheragh Mosque

With such history, Shiraz has become synonymous with education, poetry and genuine and noble people. Shiraz was also the Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty (AD 1747–79), which many of its most beautiful buildings were built or restored, like Arg Karimkhan, Vakil Bazzar, Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque and many others.

In modern Iran, almost everybody seems to like Shiraz city and Shirazi people :) holding graves of some of the most important and popular poets like Sa'di and Hafiz, alongside with historical sites like Persepolis and Pasargad, Iranian people are sympathetic about this city. Cyrus the great and Darius' cemetery located in Pars (Fars) province, adds tons of feelings and emotions among those who believe in Persia's Empire supremacy.

Arg Karim Khan

hospitality
all these facts and figures haven't caused Shirazi people to be disrespectful to other citizens and nationalities. if you have once visited places and cities in the heart of Europe with people who are deeply concerned about their race, you will cherish such manner in Shiraz. a city with stuck up nose citizens has a poisoned spirit above the houses and monuments!

how to travel to Shiraz?
for visiting any city in Iran (except for free zones like Kish island) you will need a Visa from Iran's embassy (or consulate) in your country or countries who accredited with your homeland politically. Visa on arrival is available for some nationalities (ask your local travel agency or embassy office)

you can fly to Shiraz int'l airport from Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, London, Kuala Lumpur etc
you can also fly to Tehran or other int'l airports and travel to Shiraz via air from almost all the cities in Iran, or travel by bus or train. price of air ticket from Tehran to Shiraz varies in a range of 50 to 100 USD (one leg) and the flight is roughly one hour.

bus tickets are cheaper, around 15-20 USD and the trips takes 12 hours.

where to stay in Shiraz? accommodation options
Shiraz has many hotels as it is a well known destination for most of tourists coming to Iran from the very beginning. 5 star hotels like Shiraz Hotel, Chamran Hotel, Pars etc and many 4 and 3 star hotels. like all the other cities in Iran, regretfully Shiraz suffers from lack of some tourism infrastructures, but with some study and research before your schedule, you can guarantee your trip out of bad surprises :)

planning a budget trip? back pack lovers read here!

a backpack travel to Shiraz with your partner would be memorable

you can travel to Iran from land borders in south and travel to Shiraz with bus for as low as 7 USD. in Shiraz there are some motels you can stay for below 10 USD per night. also try hospitalityclub.org, which many from Shiraz are offering a coach or bed for single or couple travelers. once again Shirazi people are greatly welcome and kind to tourist which will definitely surprise you!

Eating in Shiraz
Shiraz enjoys good restaurants and meals like many other Iranian cities. Sea food is a must to try in this city! and there should a "must try before you die" in your food bucket list called Kalam Polo!! it is Cabbage, rice and meat baked in steam with herbs and spices. foods can be spicy in Shiraz.

if you are Vegetarian, like all other cities in Iran, you may face difficulty in Shiraz.

where to go?
what a silly question! keep calm and walk away! going every where in Shiraz is pleasant :D many places reminds you of the greatest historical places in Italy or Greece. and some streets are really sleepless! try this link on Lonelyplanet

if you have enjoyed Shiraz before, please send me your travel reviews to be published here :) send them to me by email to honarparvar (at) hotmail (dot) com

Respect the Forest, Respect the Nature...

2012-09-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

These days we are witnessing another nature tragedy in Malaga, Spain. A raging forest fire there, leaves one person dead and thousands evacuated as fire-fighters struggle to subdue the blaze.

The fire, which is now thought to have been started deliberately, is affecting Coin, Monda, Ojen, Alhaurin, Mijas and Marbella.

It's a big drama for humanity and nature, both. Russia, Portugal, Brazil, China, Iran and many other countries have experienced same tragedies recently. The worst point is when we come to the fact, all these phenomena start directly or indirectly with human cause! global warming or simply leaving an open fire in the woods. the result is the same!

Dal-Khani Forest in Iran, a virgin jungle for respectful Tourists

Dalkhani is the name a virgin and untouched area in North of Iran, between Ramsar and Shahsavar (Tonekabon) city. the village had only three family as residents till 2005! but now it's a major tourist attraction in the area of Caspian Sea.

Sarvelat, a paradise in North of Iran

2012-06-24T05:08:00.000-07:00

Right in the border of Mazandaran and Gilan provinces in north of Iran, there's a small city called Chaboksar.

3 km down to the west, up to the mountains of Alborz, you can drive in to one of your joyful moments of life: Sarvelat! the village of Sarvelat is located in the montain, with a view of Caspian Sea and sight of Hachiroud and Ramsar jungles.

Caspian Sea from Chaboksar

Attractions of Sarvelat:

Traditional Restaurant
in this restaurant which is famous for its traditional meals and dishes, you will just feel like home! the price of the meals are very affordable and the taste is great! I rank it top fifty among MUST TRY before you die bucket list!!
Rental cottages
Have you ever dreamed of waking up in the jungle while you just don't remember what happened last night?!! try these cottages for as low as 20 USD per night (low season) up to 50 USD per night (high season)
view of Mountain Alborz and Caspian Sea

for getting there:

you can go from Tehran to Qazvin (highway) and then take the Rasht Highway and then the road to Ramsar.

6 Km lef to Ramsar, Sarvelat's exit is on your right side

or you may go to Chalous from Karaj City and then to Ramsar. after 6 Km the exit is on your left!

and you definitely won't forget to RESPECT the nature while you visit this fabulous and virgin place :)

Shemshak Ski resort in Iran (Tehran)

2011-08-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

Nature inspires everyone, but which scene is really your type of inspiration? Sea, Mountains, Jungle, Desert, River, panoramic landscpaes, rocks, water falls...? mine is definitely Mountains.

Iran has all the above attractions for tourists. Deserts in central areas, sea and Ocean in North and South, mountains and high altitudes in north and south west parts etc.

I've been written about Ski resorts in Tehran before, and this time more about one specific one, Shemshak Ski Resort:

Shemshak Ski Resort

Shemshak is a famous ski resort located in the north east of Tehran city in the Alborz mountains. It's the second largest ski area in Iran after Dizin and even according to professional ski fans in Iran, more exciting than Dizin regarding its field shape. It includes two ski lifts, three dish teleskis and two Hammer teleskis. The slopes lie at an altitude of 2550m to 3050m above sea level, high enough to be able to Ski for almost 6 months a year. The resort includes two main slopes each with a chair lift that apex at the top and several lifts. There are also lighting facilities for night skiing.

Accommodation is available in Villas and Hotel

Shemshak has classically catered to more advanced skiers while Dizin has drawn beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. The slopes are quite steep and many of the runs are mogul runs. the resort is about 1 hour drive from Tehran, 10 km from middle-slope parking of Dizin and 5 km from Darband-Sar ski resort. in the way to the resort from Tehran, there are many restaurants with Persian and European meals which themselves attract many tourists from Tehran.

Shemshak area in Alborz range of Mountains

I'd like to take you to this page to see more photos of the Ski field itself and Skiers. Other Ski Resorts close to Shemshak include: Darbandsar (2 km), Dizin (13 km), Tochal (22 km), Aab Ali (51 km), Pooladkaf Ski Resort (628 km)

Also take a look at this page for weather forecast, map overlay etc. all the pictures in this blog post are taken by Hassan Abbasnejad.

Buying a property in North of Iran, Good Idea or not?

2010-12-23T01:49:00.000-08:00

For a long time, coast of Caspian sea (aka Khazar lake), in the north of Iran has been a major destination for capital residents, Tehrani people. Caspian sea or Khazar or Mazandaran lake is the largest lake on the planet by area. beauties of the coast of Caspian in north of Iran is not limited to the sea shore, because of Alborz mountains and forests located in the area, Mazandaran and Gilan province are hosting a very beautiful and various natural sceneries.

Caspian Sea shore in Iran

in many countries touristic areas are popular places for investors, constructors and holiday makers to build, buy and invest in holiday resorts and tourism facilities. Khazar's sea shore is not an exception. in high season period and during 3-4 days holidays, you can see people rushing from Tehran to Mazandaran and Gilan provinces causing huge traffic jams in Chalous, Haraz, Firouzkouh and Rasht highways. this fact had been shown a strong impact on local people's lives and income.

Villa in Sisangan area, Mazandaran

So Tourism has became a major economy key for this region and side businesses have experienced a significant growth during pas decades. one of these businesses is construction and property. Prices of properties in Khazar area has been grown for more than 1000 times during my lifetime (3 decades). with the property crisis and credit crunch in west, Iranian people who had invested in to overseas properties like Dubai and Europe, again attracted to national investment opportunities since they believed Iran has not any link to int'l economy (which is true) but they ignored the fact national economy doesn't have the potential to grow anymore as well as under recession international economy. So after a while we had a bulb on prices and obviously a crunch after that. and now we are in a 2 year old recession which I believe will last till another fresh air in tourism industry in Iran. some consequences of such recession are listed below:

many jobs have been lost
construction has stopped in large quantities and many are out of job now. including Afghan and Iranian workers and labors, real estate agents, services etc
a big portion of capital is frozen on half completed construction sights
people who have invested their capital in properties face credit and cash problems
banks face problems with those who have borrowed
customer behavior has changed. for example now investors prefer to buy apartments rather than Villas, which was somehow unusual in Mazandaran and Gilan provinces so far

still buying property in North of Iran, coast of Caspian sea is known investment method for many Iranian. and I believe the biggest challenge in future for them will be a competition which soon or late will begin with overseas properties. right now countries like UAE, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Turkey and Spain have attracted many Iranian as investors.

property prices in Mazandaran province vary from 200,000 USD up to millions depending on the location and construction quality, and with the same money you can buy a villa in Cyprus or even cheaper in Turkey. at the other hand property mortgages are not available for more than 10% at unbelievable rate of 12% interest!! and even for more portion mortgage like 60-70% you have to obtain it from private banks in Iran which will charge you up to 30% of the money annually. comparing to 4-6% rates in Europe this is completely crazy. another option buying a property in other countries can offer which Caspian region can't offer is residency. countries who offer residency upon buying a property have this advantage comparing to their national rival.

Iranian speak Persian not Arabic!

2010-12-08T01:25:00.000-08:00

Achaemenid Standard

I have met many people from around the world and as an Iranian nationality, I have some major problems with the lack of knowledge among people (mostly Americans) about my country, Iran. I can't believe sometime how people can be influenced and mislead by the media propaganda and sometimes how they can get fooled by irrelevant and wrong information. one of these wrong issues is some people think we, Iranian or Persian people speak Arabic!! The language of Iranian people is Persian (also called Parsi or Farsi). We ARE NOT ARABS!!! Persia or Iran is a country with 4500 years of civilization and Arab countries were just colonies of Persian Empire till 1400 years back. And a country called United Arab Emirates or Bahrain or Qatar wasn’t exist 50 years ago!! Though I respect Arab race as human and our neighbors, but it’s very sad that some western people think Iranian people speak Arabic which is only due to their lack of knowledge and education.
I know most of people in US and Europe are aware of Iranian history and facts, but still it's funny to have such beliefs in a minority of people.

Map of the Achaemenid Empire - 550-330 BCE

if you want to learn more about Ancient Persia, you can take a look at Achaemenid Empire in wikipedia.

Cyrus the great was the founder of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenid dynasty. Regarding the most known and trusted encyclopedias including Britanica and Wikipedia, it was under his own rule that the empire embraced all previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much of Central Asia, parts of Europe and Caucasus. From the Mediterranean sea and the Hellespont in the west to the Indus River in the east, to create the largest empire the world had yet seen.

Darius the Great

Just imagine the facet Cyrus the Great respected the customs and religions of the lands he conquered, which is not yet seen in many countries around the world (and I confess including today Iran). It is said that in universal history, the role of the Achaemenid empire founded by Cyrus lies in its very successful model for centralized administration and establishing a government working to the advantage and profit of its subjects. In fact, the administration of the empire through satraps and the vital principle of forming a government at Pasargadae were the work of Cyrus. Aside from his own nation, Persia (modern Iran), Cyrus also left a lasting legacy on Jewish religion (through his Edict of Restoration), human rights, politics, and military strategy, as well as on both Eastern and Western civilizations.

I ain't a Racist in no way and I strongly believe in respecting all the nations and races including Turks, Arabs, Indians etc, but I don't know if you ever have experienced being misjudged and mistaken by your root and race facts. It's very unpleasant and today, because of news published over the world and the government we have (with its specific method of communicating with the rest of the world, which I don't agree or disagree) people around the world misjudge Iranian people. You have to consider people of a country independent and separate from their governors, especially in a country like Iran. Professor Patrick Hunt, an American archeologist and history author says: "If you are looking at the greatest personages in History who have affected the World, 'Cyrus the Great' is one of the few who deserves that epithet, the one who deserves to be called 'the Great'. The empire over which Cyrus ruled was the largest the Ancient World had ever seen and may be to this day the largest empire ever."

Plan your Budget Travel to Iran

2010-11-01T01:49:00.000-07:00

Back Pack Budget Traveling tips and ideas for Iran

on the off chance that you trust it's a decent time to movement to Iran, and on the off chance that you are a Budget traveler,then you may love this blog entry!! I'll tell you a few hints about how to design a spending trek to Iran:

Convenience:

Inns are so costly in Iran, exceptionally on the off chance that you endeavor to relate the cost and the nature of administration at any rate (who shouldn't mind this connection?!) a 5 star lodging giving a 3 star benefit(!) costs you 220 USD in Tehran. what's more, a 3 star lodging costs 90 USD every night

determination:

endeavor to discover a host utilizing sites like hospitalityclub

or then again endeavor to locate an outfitted flat for here and now.

Transportation:

taxis and different transportations in Iran are generally modest. the least expensive method for going inside Iran is quite often Busses, additionally for a few courses you can check up with trains.

in the event that you need to movement inside Tehran, which is the most costly city in Iran, as a spending explorer don't get in a Taxi and say your goal. it will work like a Yellow Cab in London (costly)! rather you can ask other individuals how you can arrive.

for Bikers and Motorcycle riders things can be extraordinary. petroleum is shabby in Iran (about 40 USD pennies for each Liter)

dinners:

Dinners in a few eateries can cost you 30-100 USD per individual! Eateries like Nayeb, Shandiz, Shamdan, Alborz and numerous others begin from 20-25 for each individual. indeed, even eateries like Taj Mahal, ّFrench and Japanese eateries can cost up to 100 bucks!

rather than attempting these eateries for a basic supper you can cook extremely shabby and solid sustenance utilizing rice, meet, meat, chicken and vegetables.

unpleasant costs:

rice: 2 USD per Kg - chicken: 3-4 USD per Kg - hamburger: 8 USD per Kg - vegetables: 1 USD per Kg

natural products (normal): 2-3 USD per Kg

NOTICE: Iranian eateries, for the most part, are not Vegetarian benevolent!

Touristic zones and sights:many of them are free and the rest are sufficiently modest. adjacent to you don't have some other choice to pay less!

Cash Exchange:

this can hurt!! in numerous urban areas you will encounter issues with trading cash. not very numerous in little urban communities and exceptionally restricted open hours. additionally a large portion of banks just manage remote monetary forms just 2 hours every day (11:00-13:00 nearby time)

SO CARRY enough Iranian cash when you are out of Tehran or vast urban areas. I know for a large portion of westerners it sounds insane, however you should.

there's no ATM tolerating VISA, MasterCard and so on so you may not utilize them.

paying in USD or Euro and so on to conventional individuals and vendors can cost you more than what you ought to typically pay.

I trust you make the most of your outing!

Respect the Nature

2010-09-10T23:21:00.000-07:00

Rubbish left by fishers

If you are a back pack traveler or eco-tourist or even if you're just a nature lover, you should have been so concerned about the nature and how people should treat it. unfortunately in my country, Iran, the culture of touring and camping has been considered unimportant! you see nothing about it in media propaganda, public ads and even it's not in agenda for parents to teach their children in many cases. it takes all parts of society to change this culture and make our country a better place in future.

If you have been to places like North of Iran, the Caspian sea coast or to mountains and jungles, you see sad things like left rubbish and ruined nature objects like trees, river side etc. as far as I know it takes 300 years for a glass made bottle to get recycled in nature and a lifetime for a plastic bag!!
Left Garbages in the nature can affect the plants by killing them by suffocating the plants by the rapping of the rubbish around the plants steam. Also rubbish can affect the plants by them not getting enough sunlight, water and air. Also rubbish can kill fish, birds and animals. it's not a joke! Fish and sea animals die everyday because of dirt produced by our rubbish in the water.

In my post about Taleghan years back, some visitors has commented which I just preferred to publish them here:

Pontia has said:

I was so happy to see this. My dad is actually from Koolaj. Taleghan is really beautiful,especially now that they have opened up the dam. I don't know how recently you were there, but since Tehrani's have discovered Taleghan, weekends here are full of campers along the water. And when they leave, they also leave a lot of trash behind. Very sad. Taleghan is becoming so crowded.

Anonymous said:

I too, like Pontia in the comment above, have family from Koolaj.

Having just visited Taleghan in the last month, I was saddened to see all the rubbish tourists leave behind.

People really need to learn to clean up after themselves and take their rubbish home with them. All the plastic they leave behind will not magically disintegrate or vanish.

It is very unfortunate that many Iranian people still do not understand the concept of not littering!

I urge anyone visiting Taleghan to treat the place with respect and clean up their rubbish behind them. Also camping on people's private land is just not on!

So let me just reiterate:

(a) Take your rubbish with you...leave the place just as you found it!

(b) Ask permission of the land owner before you camp on their land!

Thank you.

Shamxal or Shamkhal, the paradise of Khorasan

2010-09-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

You have heard a lot about Darakeh and Darband (two famous places in north of Tehran which Tehrani people used to go for dining, mountain climbing and smoking hookah -Ghalioon, Shisha or Hubble bubble-). well, they are connected to the capital Tehran and so we are fed up with hearing their name too much. they ARE beautiful indeed, but comparing to Shamkhal (or Shamxal) in Khorasan province, they can't even compete.

This is Shamkhal, the paradise in Iran, in Khorasan. as you step in, you gotta go to the end. you can't stand in the middle: go or come back, no alternative!! all you see are magnificent valleys, sky scraping trees, crystal clear river flow and fantastic water falls. There are spas, hot water tubs and caves. it's really hallucinogenic but it's for real!

The Valley starts from Tandoreh national park, and after 12 Km you will reach two cold water spas called Shamxal and further you reach a new valley called Dor Badam. from this point the valley gets a little bit wider and you see the Doroungar river on your side. It flows to Mohammad Taghi Beig village and city of Dargaz.

Till now, you should have walked for 7 hours and you may be tired, but I bet you are more fascinated than exhausted! the Valley ends here and... WOW! you see a huge flat field in front of you, beneath your feet. the river you were crossing minutes ago, now feeds many gardens and farms. The nature is so generous to this place and this is the reason of all these beauties.

some information about Shamxal valley:

Geographical location: 65 Km north of Ghouchan city, Razavi Khorasan province. between Ghouchan and Dargaz cities.

access: by car from Ghouchan or by cab from Felestin (Palestine) square in Ghouchan.

Valley's length: from Shamkhal village to Doroungar village it's roughly 18 km.

Valley's height: up to 200 meters

suggestions:

1- plan your trip somehow to be able to accommodate the first night in Shamxal's mosque or in the beginning of the first spa in tent, and follow the rest tomorrow morning. there are 3 suites for rent in this area as well.

2- wear proper shoes ad clothes. the nights are cold and freezing some seasons. you may need sun glasses or caps.

3- during the road you will get wet. so have spare cloth for sleeping.

4- Please treat the nature gently :)

this article is translated from it's origin, written by my friend, Mehdi Roudaki. Mehdi is originally a Kurmanj (Kurmanc) and speaks Kurmanji (Kurmanci) Kurdish as his mother tongue. He is familiar with culture of resdent people over there and nature of Kurmanj, Dargaz and Shamxal. feel free to write him if you plan to visit this undisputed place. thanks to him for these info and pictures, please visit his blog for more. for Kurdish language click the link.

Iran's unique attraction: The underground Music Bands

2010-07-20T00:42:00.000-07:00

Among all the attraction you have heard about in Iran, this virgin island(!) has a significant issue to discover by and be delivered to tourists: The underground Music bands.
These bands are mostly illegal, or better to say they are on the dark side of law! but no difference to make them outlaw! among them you can find Rock and Rap bands.
actually Iranian singers are categorized as:

legal and local singers and bands who have permit from the government to publish and distribute their artworks inside Iran
illegal bands who can't get permission for their works, known as underground music which I think have a larger body than the legal sector!
Iranian singers and Bands in US, known as Los Angelesi Music (From L.A.)
Iranian singers and Bands in Europe or other countries

I strongly believe the second sector has got more talent and innovation in their music than the others, especially the third one which mostly reminds you of dinosaurs!

I'm not a music expert, but I love Rock music personally and in Iran there are many Rock bands which all of them are categorized in the underground part. the reason is simply "our government denies many diversifications in interests and beliefs to be exist!" they just think Rock, Rap, Metal etc are not existed, just like the homos3xuality! (refer to Mr.Ahmadinejad's speech in NY claimed "No gays in Iran" (watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_3RUwAJ_MI)

The Ways, is a rock band in Iran, probably located in Tehran, founded by Kaveh Afagh and Alireza Pour-reza.as they say on their official website (www.thewaysband.com) "The Ways supposes that has created or reached a special kind of pop-rock music. The Ways` members named their style, Oriental Rock, which is based on the creative artistic methods of the Old Persian artists."
Among their outstanding songs, I love "bonbast" and "Tehran"

Tehran Song:
talks about unemployed and under wage people (mostly men) who their inability to obtain minimum life needs causes prostitution of their wives and girls. a very strong lyric by Kaveh Afagh, implemented smoothly on the music theme. the vocal is somehow different of what ever I've heard from Iranian rock bands.

Bonbast Song:
life, war and the truth of universe! if these are things you can't combine them together in your life, this is your right music. "lieutenant, you're stuck and condemned, and your death is just a message from each War" it says in a part and also: "universe, both your hands are null, and all the alleys are dead-end"

Support this band, linking and downloading theirs songs: www.thewaysband.com

How to expand your Tourism Business in Iran? Part 3/3

2010-07-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

Now in the last part of this article, I'd like to get back to our main discussion:
How The Emirates Group as company active in Tourism business in UAE can start or expand its operation in Iran?

Challenges:

Talking about challenges in Tourism industry, we should keep in mind certain realistic truths about tourism such as: it consumes resources, creates waste and requires certain kinds of infrastructure; it creates conditions for possible over-consumption of resources; it is dominated by private investment with priority on maximizing profits; its difficulties to control nature resources; and it may be seen as simply entertainment services consumed by tourists. The challenge of sustainable tourism development, therefore, is to balance the principles with these truths, and this can be done only through integrated, cooperative approaches involving all major players and decision makers in government and related economic activities in the area. Let’s move to 5 named challenges above:

Advantaging out of lack of infrastructure!

Emirates airlines, as a key member to the group, can take some advantages out of the situation in Iran right now. The Iranian airlines have limited number of available flights to international airports. Transit and connecting flights from Iranian major cities to all destinations Emirates Airlines has, can play a major role in fulfilling the airline’s capacity. Bear in mind Iran has a population of 70 Million (12 times more than UAE) which half of this population is living in just 5 major cities and nearby.

Over-consumption of resources

For Emirate Group, using local expert recruitment firms and consulting companies to balance its resources for advertising, human resources etc is a must.

For the country itself, the tourism industry needs certain expert trainings and academic courses in university. this will cause more income for the country since the companies won’t need to import services and human resources.

Private Investments

Governments should indicate clear commitments about private sector involve-ment in tourism infrastructure development, and this should form part of integrated plans or a master plan like what we call “20 year perspective program” in Iran. In order to attract private sector participation, governments should address such issues as creating a conductive business environment, providing investment incentives, developing an adequate legislative framework and strengthening governmental capacity to negotiate.

Banks in Iran and other development financing institutions should extend full assistance to tourism infrastructure development, to give the private sector a confidence in investing.
As an obvious result, the Emirates Group will feel confident to invest in Iran’s tourism market and will be able to benefit out of well regulated routine in Iran, clearly and transparently know:

•    how to import the capital
•    how to extract the profit
•    how to secure the capital itself

Effective environmental management

There is a complex relationship between tourism and the environment, such that tourism has inevitable and important environmental impacts, including: resource use, consumption, waste, pollution and effects from tourism-related transport.

For the Emirates Group this challenge should be handled in SCR (Social Corporate Responsibility) department. So we won’t enter this issue.
For the industry itself, there’s a need for a nation level action, including cultural issues etc. Government should give more attention to planning, coordination and monitoring of tourism development and environmental management.

Opportunities:

Bilateral travel packages

Tourism in Dubai is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the emirate. But what Dubai offers to tourists? Does Dubai satisfy a tourist like when he/she steps in to European cities? Does Dubai contain quarter of what we counted as Iran’s attractions?

Nasirolmolk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

Dubai's tempt for tourists is mainly based on shopping. There are other things, made artificially (in my point of view, but confirmed by many as I have asked through years and years from different countries) to attract and also make benefit, like Ski resort, desert camps and safari, aqua parks, Yacht marinas etc. Again Comparing to Iran, the smallest Ski resorts in Iran (actually there are more than 10) is 10 times bigger than the artificially made Ski resort in Mall of the Emirates.

An untouched market in neighborhood

Emirates Group is enjoying an untouched and virgin market in the neighborhood in many aspects. Imagine an advert, saying you can “Shop in Dubai, Ski in Dizin and Scuba Diving in Qeshm island!” it would be a collection of attractions unbelievably gathered in one package.

And who is the winner? No doubts, the customer, and then the infrastructure provider, which a major part is on Emirates Group stake.

Cheap currency
No one neglects the impact of weak Iranian currency versus strong Dollar and Euro. Both the country and the Emirates Group can take advantage of this opportunity.

* * * * *

Please let me have your comments and feed back. I'd be glad to be in touch with businesses who seriously are looking forward to start or expand their activities in Iran. through the connection I've got and experience in tourism industry, I got no doubt I can be helpful! feel free to contact me: honarparvar at gmail dot com.

How to expand your tourism business in Iran - Part 2/3

2010-06-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Part two
Now suppose the Emirates Group wants to expand its operations in Iran

Traditional Restaurant in Tehran

I take this sample, with a focus on Tourism industry to cover the question number one and two in the assignment. Therefore, we consider the Emirates Group possible policies to expand its activities in Iran, while we are considering the tourism industry in Iran, which can play a key role in public wealth, growing GDP and build a long term and recession proof business field.

The importance of tourism in Iran appears obvious when you look at Iran’s potentials and attractions to travelers, while there has been a minimum and next to nothing attention to this field.

According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Iran's travel and tourism demand is set to grow by 6.6 percent for the next ten-year period topping the list of Middle East countries. This can be caused by different points which we will discuss now, and then we will back to our main question “How The Emirates Group can expand business in Tourism field?”

Tourism Industry in Iran

Iran’s potential in tourism industry is non-negotiable and obvious. The diversification of climate, nature sceneries and historical attractions are just samples that make Iran incomparable to many other countries in the world.

Iran has jungles, mounts, sea and desert simultaneously in all 4 seasons, which in the top ten countries regarding their income of tourism only United States of America (seed 2) and China (seed 4) have the same opportunity, while US is making 80 Billion USD, which is 20% more than whole Iran’s government’s budget in the current year.

The landscape of Iran is diverse and beautiful, providing a range of activities from hiking and skiing in the Alborz Mountains, to beach holidays by the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

Visitors
Iran can serve a variety of travelers, regarding the attractions explained:
1.    Nature and Eco Tourists
2.    Sport tourists: you can Ski in Iran 8 months a year or ride a buggy in the deserts, kiting, mountain climbing, diving etc almost 12 months
3.    Medical tourism
Iran is well-known and famous for its surgeons and doctors. CNN reported “Iran: Nose Job Capital of World” in 2006, because of number of beauty surgeries done in the country during past years.
4.    Historical tourism
Iran has 4000 years of civilization, which has left lots of historical monuments and attractions.
5.    Business travelers
6.    Cultural Tourists

Tourism problems and challenges in Iran

Waterfall in Lorestan

The main challenge Iran’s tourism industry faces, is lack of proper infrastructures for travelers and tourism firms. Other issues are of lower priority in my belief: financing problems, sanctions and embargos, lack of promotion and advertising campaigns, cultural differences and social codes etc.

So the companies which want to establish a tourism business in Iran, or expanding their operations in this field should be prepared for such challenges. Just to give the case an example, in Iran there’s no integrated payment system connected to international banking system. There is a local network between banks called Shetab, which can’t be accessed from Visa, MasterCard etc. and cannot be connected to an Int’l merchant account as well. In Iran there is no online hotel reservation system.

Airlines, Airports and roads are another major problem in Tourism infrastructure. Poor quality of all above means of travelling is clear and undisputed.

Extending infrastructure problems to tourism sites: Iran lacks in public services for tourists. There are no hotels in many small cities despite the potential they have for a long period of visits. There are problems in basic issues like public bathrooms, restaurants, cafes etc.

Lack of knowledge in touring and tour guiding is another issue, I consider it structural problem.

in the 3rd part I will discuss the main challenges and opportunities Emirates Group will face in Iran.
Please kindly let me have your comments and feed backs.

How to expand your Tourism business in Iran? Part 1

2010-05-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

The below article is a university assignment done for MBA course "Regional and Global Business Strategy" by me (Emad Honarparvar). I have discussed the Emirate Group corp as my case study, supposing this company is up to expand its business operations and activities in Iran.

The Assignment is in 9 pages to I split it up in 3 parts:
Part one an introduction on the Emirates Group which tries to find out the group potentials and character to proceed with a proposal to the firm.

the second part focuses on the proposal to the Emirates Group and the third part is talking about Iran's tourism industry and challenges Emirates Group will and have to face in Iran.

Part One: Introduction of Emirates Group

The Emirates Group is a public international travel and tourism multinational holding company, headquartered in Dubai. The Emirates Group comprises Dnata, an aviation services company providing ground handling services at 17 airports and Emirates Airline, the largest airline in the Middle East, with flies to over 100 destinations, operating a fleet of over 130 wide-bodied aircraft. The airline has 170 aircraft on order worth US$ 58 billion.
The Emirates Group has a turnover of approximately US$12 billion and employs over 48,000 employees across all its 50 business units and associated firms, making it one of the biggest employers in the Middle East according to the company’s website. The company, likely to many other giant businesses and power leads in Dubai, is wholly-owned by the Government of Dubai directly under the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
The Emirates Group has sub-divisions and subsidiaries to help its growth sustainable and let the company to play as a key member in the region’s Travel, Transportation and Tourism industry. These divisions include:
Emirates Airlines: A major Airline in Middle East known as national airline of UAE, with roughly 2000 flights per week (stat 2009, average). The airline has started its activity from the beginning years of Emirates Group’s establishment with only two medium size airplanes, one Boeing 737 and one Airbus 300. Nowadays they have 131 aircrafts including 80 Boeing 777 which makes it the second largest airline regarding capacity for passengers.
In the financial year 2008-09 passenger numbers reached 22.7 million, representing an increase of 7.1% over last year. The airline's profits however were down 72% for the 2008/09 fiscal year. Its profit of 1.49bn dirham ($406m; £255m) for the year to March 31 compared with a 5.3bn dirham profit for the previous year.
Emirates Sky Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo is a cargo carrier operating from Dubai International Airport. The SkyCargo division operates nine aircraft; Airbus A310 and Boeing 747 freighters, with a further 10 freighter aircraft on order; two Airbus A380 and eight Boeing 777 aircraft. Emirates SkyCargo also use the cargo capacity of the passenger fleet. In the 2008 financial year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1,408,300 tons, an improvement of 9.8% compared to the previous year (stats from the company’s official website)
Dnata: Dnata is an aviation services company, comprising Dnata Airport Operations, the largest ground and passenger handling company at Dubai International Airport, Dnata Cargo, responsible for dealing with much of the 1.3 million tons of cargo passing through Dubai International Airport, and Dnata Agencies, a Dubai based travel agency, acting on behalf of a number of major carries, including Aeroflot, Aer Lingus, Airblue, British Airways, Swissair and United Airlines.
Changi Airport services: Changi International Airport Services (CIAS) offers a comprehensive range of ground handling services to more than 30 scheduled airlines in Singapore.
Emirates Catering and Emirates Engineering
Mercator: Mercator is a global provider of business technology solutions, delivering business transformation, process improvement and return on investment to more than 150 customers in five continents.
The IT division of Emirates Group launched in 1985 to serve the business technology requirements of Emirates and Dnata, but is now a fully-fledged worldwide provider of airline and airport solutions. The IT division employs more than 2,000 staff in Dubai, with additional resources in India.

Tourism Department: including Emirates Holidays, Emirates Tours, EMQuest, and Emirates Hotels and resorts. The last division established in late 2007, to build and serve high profile hotels and holiday resorts.

Key to Success

In my point of view, the main reason of rapid growth in the Emirates Group lies in the UAE approach for development: Building high quality and upon future necessities infrastructure. And we can never neglect the fact; The Emirates Group has been a key issue in this approach itself. So the key to success in this group is they have been a part of plan to new face of Dubai in the world, providing other businesses such as Trade, Tourism, Flight transit etc, with a reliable and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

in the next part I suppose the Emirates Group wants to expand its operations in Iran and will discuss such decision how can be put to work and be successful. please follow up and feel free to comment.

Iranian fruits and gardens

2010-04-29T23:17:00.000-07:00

Iran has a vast majority of food and fruit products. because of the variety of climates from hot and sandy deserts to crowded jungles and 100% humid places, this wide divergence has occurred.
most of Iranian farms and gardens are producing organic fruits. comparing to Genetically Modified fruits I've seen in Europe, Iranian fruits are more juicy and tasty.

in the picture: a native Orange and Citrus fruit whole seller in Ramsar city

Iran produces Orange, lemon and other citrus fruits in north of Iran, mostly in Mazandaran, also Kiwi, Tea leaves, rice and Banana over there. Apple, Pear and Peach in Damavand, Taleghan etc. Pistachio and Pomegranate in Yazd and Saveh, Watermelon and melon in Mashhad etc. Dates are produced in southern Iranian cities like Ahwaz and Abadan.
in North west or Iran, especially Tabriz city Iran produces dried fruits, mostly exported to Turkey, Persian Gulf coast countries and Europe.

Kiwi and Orange

Iran imports some fruits as well, like fruits from South East Asia which we don't have in Iran etc. but the mostly confusing thing is we import Apple, Orange and rice as well! from Turkey, China, Egypt and Pakistan. It has a big negative effect on local market and causes losses for native traders and producers.

Tourism challenges in Iran

2010-04-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

Tourism declined dramatically during the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s and never revived properly afterward. Iranian governors have paid most of their attention to local tourism rather than foreigners. Despite the importance of local tourism which will cause distribution of wealth among Iranian, we have to keep in mind foreign tourism imports money and wealth which is excessively more important to the country’s economy.
The main challenge Iran’s tourism industry faces, is lack of proper infrastructures for travelers and tourism firms. Other issues are of lower priority in my belief: financing problems, sanctions and embargoes, lack of promotion and advertising campaigns, cultural differences and social codes etc.
So the companies which want to establish a tourism business in Iran, or expanding their operations in this field should be prepared for such challenges. Just to give the case an example, in Iran there’s no integrated payment system connected to international banking system. There is a local network between banks called Shetab, which can’t be accessed from Visa, MasterCard etc. and cannot be connected to an Int’l merchant account as well. In Iran there is no online hotel reservation system working nationwide.
Airlines, Airports and roads are another major problem in Tourism infrastructure. Poor quality of all above means of traveling is clear and undisputed.
Extending infrastructure problems to tourism sites: Iran lacks in public services for tourists. There are no hotels in many small cities despite the potential they have for a long period of visits. There are problems in basic issues like public bathrooms, restaurants, cafe etc.
Lack of knowledge in touring and tour guiding is another issue, I consider it structural problem.

I have done a case study research on how an international tourism company can expand its operations in Iran and win the chance to make massive money while Iranian based companies and firms are failing to do so. my case is Emirates Group. please get back here for this research in two weeks (May 2010). I appreciate your comments and advices in such topic in advance.