Isfahan to Launch Tourist Taxis

Tourist taxis will soon hit the streets of Isfahan in the latest measure to boost tourism.

In a statement published on the website of the office of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in Isfahan Province, Mohsen Yarmohammadian, tourism deputy at the organization, said related public and private entities are working on devising guidelines for the launch of the cabs.

"For instance, Isfahan's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture has been tasked with studying similar schemes in other countries," he said in the statement.

For easy access, the taxis will be made available mostly near attractions and hotels. Yazd was the first city in Iran to launch tourist cabs, with Tehran and Bushehr officials saying their cities will follow suit. Cab drivers must have basic knowledge of English and should be familiar with tourist sites.

Isfahan, one of the oldest cities in Iran, and an important historical center for domestic and foreign tourists, is home to three world heritage sites: Naqsh-e-Jahan Square, Jame' Mosque and an ancient qanat system collectively inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List earlier this year.

According to a report by Irhal, an Islamic travel website and app, Tehran and Isfahan are among the top 10 holiday destinations sought by the Arabs of Middle East.

Based on statistics provided by the provincial ICHHTO, the number of foreign tourists in Isfahan has seen a significant increase in the past three years. The city hosted 110,000 foreign visitors during March 2012-13, while 250,000 of them visited in the first six months of the current Iranian year (started March 20).