Hendurabi Preparing to Host Norouz Travelers

With plans to develop Hendurabi’s tourism infrastructure, the Persian Gulf island is expected to become ready to host travelers during the upcoming Iranian New Year holidays known as Norouz (starting March 21).

Hendurabi is located 28 kilometers northwest of Kish Island and is part of the Kish Free Zone. The island is planned to be turned into a “tranquil” travel destination under a scheme titled “Island of Peace”, which is jointly designed by an Iranian and a German expert.

“The hotel is complete and ready to receive guests. Touring programs will soon be initiated,” said Ali Asghar Mounesan, director of Kish Free Zone Organization, IRNA reported.

“Air travel to Hendurabi is currently available at weekends but more flights will be added once demand for travel to the island grows.”

The multipurpose port is ready for the docking of passenger and cargo ships.

Around 60,000 corals along Hendurabi’s coasts, which posed a major environmental challenge to tourism development on the island, have been carefully relocated and removed to a new 3,000-hectare coral farm where they will be tended for five years.

KFZO is now offering plots of land to private investors for the construction of hotels, villas and other lodging and tourism facilities.

“The ongoing projects in Hendurabi will soon be inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani,” said Mounesan.

“No commercial activities disturbing the tranquility of the island will be allowed. A health village and technology parks for research projects have been envisioned in the scheme,” said Akbar Torkan, secretary of the High Council of Free Zones.

KFZO has purchased six small aircrafts that will connect provincial capitals directly to Kish.

Deregulation of airfares, which allowed the organization to set competitive prices, has helped boost travel to Kish last year and officials expect more tourists to visit the island in the upcoming Norouz.

“The misconception that a trip to Kish is as expensive as international travel is gradually fading away,” said Mounesan.