A four-season land

IRAN, a four-season land, has 23 UNESCO World Heritage sites. These sites have long attracted tourists from across the globe. Foreign tourists #travel to #Iran to visit numerous historical and natural sites and enjoy time in a country which is home to many attractions. World Economic Forum data show Iran's ranking in tourist attraction moving higher from 114 in 2011 to 93 in 2017. That bears proof to the fact that foreign tourists have not become unwilling to travel to Iran.

As foreign currencies, including the US dollar and the euro, claimed ground against the Iranian Rial, the tourism industry in Iran entered a new phase, particularly for foreign visitors. The Rial's slide represents a unique opportunity for foreign tourists visiting Iran as their travel costs have fallen incredibly.



Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

The Jewels of Persia by bicycle

THE Jewels of Persia by Bicycle is a 15 day, moderately challenging cycling tour that takes travelers along a beautiful route through Central Iran, exploring the country's cultural heartland and visiting key historical sites.

Organised by specialist bicycle tour operator SpiceRoads based in Bangkok who offer tours on two wheels for the casual sightseer to performance road cyclist, and range from half­-day sightseeing excursions to 30-day multi-­country odysseys.

"Iran is an exciting destination that has much to offer curious travelers. Exploring the country by bicycle is the perfect way to discover its rich culture and warm people. SpiceRoads is committed to providing our riders with top quality cycling tours and travel experiences, so we're proud to announce Iran as our 30th destination," says Daniel Moylan, GM of SpiceRoads Cycle Tours.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: 72241436@N00/28947763485 Have a Good Day.  Mashhad, Iran via photopin.com

BA to fly to Tehran

BRITISH AIRWAYS direct flights to #Iran, the new six times a week service started on September 1 . 

Following the recent relaxation of sanctions, which opens up exciting new prospects for Iran as a tourist destination.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Head of network and fleet, said: “British Airways has a long history of flying to Iran so we are very excited to be launching our new six times a week service, direct from Heathrow to Tehran. “Iran is a fascinating country, full of amazing and surprising places for tourists to visit and discover its sophisticated and ancient culture.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK


Picture Credit: British Airways

Boost for Iran as FCO relaxes travel warning

BRITAIN’S Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) move to relax its advice on travel to #Iran is expected to lead to increased interest from adventure holidaymakers. 

Advice against travel has been lifted for most parts of Iran, says the FCO. It still advises against travel to the areas of Iran bordering Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan but has downgraded its previous guidance to avoid all but essential travel.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: ‘Our policy is to recommend against travel to an area when we judge that the risk is unacceptably high. We consider that continues to be the case for specific areas of Iran, notably along Iran's borders with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

‘But we believe that in other areas the risk has changed, in part due to decreased hostility under President Rouhani's government.’

#IntrepidTravel has already seen UK bookings double to the country since Iran's historic deal to close its nuclear facilities was agreed in July 14.

UK managing director, Michael Edwards, said: ‘We consistently get fantastic feedback from our Iran tours – the ancient ruins, incredible architecture, and especially the warm and friendly Iranian people. However, the FCO advice has always been a barrier for many people who wanted to travel to Iran.’

He described the relaxing of FCO travel advice as being a ‘massive boost’ for tourism to the country. ‘It will make insurance easier to obtain and ensure more people feel comfortable travelling to this fascinating country. The key is to get there now before the country is well and truly on the tourism map.”

The introduction of an electronic visa would be the final step to opening up tourism to Iran, he said, because UK citizens must currently travel to Dublin or Paris to get visas.

Intrepid plans 23 departures on its Iran Adventure trip next year, up from 21 this year.in 2015. The 16-day tour starts from £1,765 per person, including accommodation, selected meals, ground transport, and a local leader.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7138083@N04/3443633925">32065-Isfahan-Iman-Square</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Heritage list updated

THESE are some of the world’s historic or significant cultural sites given UNESCO World Heritage status this year:

• Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (Denmark)

• Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars (France)

• Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus district, Hamburg (Germany)

• Cultural landscape of Maymand (Iran)

• Necropolis of Beth She’arim—a landmark of Jewish Revival (Israel)

• Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedral churches of Cefalú and Monreale (Italy)

• Sites of Japan’s Meiji industrial revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

• Rjukan-Notodden industrial heritage site (Norway)

• Singapore Botanical Gardens (Singapore)

• Ephesus (Turkey)

• Fray Bentos Cultural-Industrial landscape (Uruguay)

• The Forth Bridge (Scotland)

• San Antonio Missions (US)

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22490717@N02/2217167582">Turkey-2776</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)