Iranian ports and islands have taken various measures to prepare the ground for hosting sea travelers during the upcoming Iranian New Year holidays, known as Norouz, which lasts from March 21 to April 2.
Local authorities, especially in southern ports, are making every effort to take the opportunity to promote marine tourist attractions. These measures are likely to produce desirable results this year since the recent surge in the US dollar exchange rate has compelled many families to rethink their holiday plans.
The total number of sea journeys during last Norouz holidays (between March 16, 2017 and April 4, 2017 when trips are often made) stood at nearly 4.8 million, Financial Tribune's inquiries show. This indicates a 76% growth in sea travel in Norouz compared with the year before, according to the database of the Port and Maritime Organization of Iran (PMO).
Qeshm Island Free Trade Zone is Iran's leading destination for sea travelers with its passenger traffic standing at 3.7 million last Norouz.
A group of tourism service providers in Qeshm recently issued a statement promising Iranians a "best-ever" Norouz experience on the island.
Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi on Friday inaugurated three tourist piers in Qeshm Island in line with ministry's plans for taking an active part in development of marine tourism infrastructures.
Plans include installation of five more piers in the island to help ease access to Qeshm's attractions.
A new shipping line has also been established connecting Qeshm to Lark Island.
Kish Island is the second top destination for marine travelers. Passenger traffic of the island was nearly 340,000 last Norouz, though bad weather conditions had reportedly resulted in the cancelation of many sea trips.
Kish FTZ authorities announced recently that travelers are permitted to bring their cars to the island during Norouz holidays if the vehicle is manufactured within the past five years.
Earlier this week, Hormozgan's provincial PMO office unveiled an electronic platform for selling tickets from Charak Port to Kish. "Sea travelers will not need to stand in long lines to purchase tickets," an official with the organization was quoted as saying by the Roads Ministry's website.
Haqani Port, Iran's largest passenger port located in Hormozgan, has added three new vessels to its fleet to increase its passenger capacity during New Year holidays.
The three vessels were officially launched on Friday during Akhoundi's visit to Hormozgan Province.
Currently, 40 passenger vessels with a total capacity of 40,000 are transferring travelers from Bandar Abbas to Qeshm and Hormuz islands.
The port's passenger traffic was 326,000 last Norouz.
Khuzestan's Khorramshahr Port authorities have upgraded safety facilities to ensure secure marine activities during Norouz. More than 213,000 passengers entered the port through the sea last Norouz.
Caspian Ports
Unlike southern popular spots, Caspian port officials are showing less interest in developing marine attractions, most probably because road travelers are enough to fill up rooms during holidays.
Bandar Torkaman and Bandar Gaz in Golestan Province could be named as exceptions.
Provincial authorities have plans to install light-weight piers in the ports to increase the number of Norouz vacationers.
Last year, 40,000 visitors entered the province through ports, "about 3% of which came from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan," said Allahyar As'adi, director of Golestan Province's PMO office.
PMO database has recorded a total of 19 million sea trips during the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 21, 2017), registering 5% growth year-on-year.
Ports located in Hormozgan Province account for the largest portion of passenger traffic in Iran, namely 90%.
