High Airfares Put Off Tourists From Chabahar

Unaffordable airfares to Chabahar, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, have caused the city to receive fewer tourists compared to other domestic destinations, a top provincial official said.

Ayoub Darvishi, deputy governor general of Sistan-Baluchestan, said to tackle the problem, measures must be taken by relevant authorities to bring down the fares.

"Air routes to Chabahar are almost the longest from Tehran and many other cities, which is why fares are quite expensive," he said, calling on the government to reduce the fares by granting subsidies, ILNA reported.

Sistan-Baluchestan has great untapped potentials for tourism. Over the past few years, significant investment in the province's tourism infrastructure has helped boost the sector.

Currently, two important projects are underway in Chabahar, including the construction of Chabahar International Airport with an area of 2,800 hectares and expansion of the railroad network from Chabahar to Zahedan. However, Darvishi stressed that more investment is needed to increase hotel and accommodation capacity.

"Despite all the shortcomings, about 300,000 people visited Chabahar in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2017)," he said.

Chabahar has several natural and historical tourist hotspots. Mangrove forests and Lipar Lagoon are well-known natural attractions, while Tis Fortress offers a unique historical experience.