Making Qeshm Trips Affordable

To exploit the full tourism potentials of Qeshm, local authorities are making efforts to reduce the costs of travel to the key Persian Gulf island. 

Hamidreza Momeni, director of Qeshm Free Zone Organization, said the relatively high cost of travel to Qeshm poses a challenge to the development of tourism on the island.

"Multilateral cooperation is required to strengthen Qeshm's image as a holiday destination," he said, QFZO's news portal reported. 

Creating alternative means of transport, organizing diverse package holidays and increasing the number of vacation rentals and hotels are among measures taken by QFZO to help reduce costs. 

Since camping is popular among budget traveler, the expansion of campsites has also been placed on the organization's agenda.  

"To facilitate the accommodation of campers during the Iranian New Year holidays (starting March 21), 12 campsites have been set up so that travelers will not have to pitch their tents on roadsides and public places," said Momeni, adding that the move will not hamper the development of hotels in Qeshm.  

Aside from the Middle East’s first and only geopark (initially added to UNESCO’s coveted Global Geoparks Network in 2006), the island’s famed mangrove forests in the Hara Protected Area draw large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists.