Hoteliers Reliable Investors for Restoration Projects

The hotel industry is the most competent and reliable sector for investment in the revival of historical buildings for possessing both the required funds for the purpose and sufficient experience in running lodging facilities, said the head of Isfahan Province's Hoteliers Society.

"Ancient buildings repurposed to serve as tourist facilities have a great advantage, as they can offer guests a completely different experience," Mehdi Narimani told the official website of Sabta, the Persian acronym for the Revitalization and Utilization Fund for Historical Places.

He added that these places offer unique opportunities for investment in tourism and hospitality sectors, and can "open up new horizons for the country's tourism industry".

Narimani is the second hotelier in two months to throw his support behind the industry investing in the restoration of historical sites. Last month, Ali Moeinzadeh, the head of Kerman Province's Hoteliers Society, said investors must be encouraged to take a bet on these sites, because "they have the potential to help develop tourism".

To restore ancient buildings and make them profitable, Sabta has initiated a plan to cede historical buildings to the private sector as long as they are repurposed into hotels, restaurants or lodging places.  

The target is to cede about 100 buildings to the private sector for restoration every year, which means a total of 1,084 buildings will be ready for use by the end of the 2025 Vision Plan.

Iran, a historical country, is home to a large number of old mansions and buildings, which can contribute to the country's nascent tourism industry if managed appropriately and restored carefully.

Italian and Swedish investors have recently expressed their readiness to fund the restoration and repurposing of historical houses in Kerman, Kashan and Isfahan.

Officials hope to compensate for Iran's woefully underdeveloped hotel sector by increasing the sector's capacity to host tourists by restoring old mansions and turning them into traditional-style lodging facilities.