Taskforce to Oversee Tabriz 2018 Preparations

The government has instructed five ministries and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization to form a taskforce whose sole responsibility is to ensure Tabriz’s hospitality will live up to its status in 2018.

In December 2015, tourism ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states selected Tabriz as the capital of Islamic tourism in 2018 and Iranian officials want to use the opportunity to promote not only Tabriz but also Iran in general.

“The government approved the formation of the taskforce in March and the ministries have been informed,” Seyyed Hadi Roumiani, the deputy for legal and parliamentary affairs at ICHHTO, was quoted as saying by Borna News.

The taskforce will be headed by ICHHTO and comprise representatives of the ministries of culture, intelligence, foreign affairs, roads and economy.

The capital of the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan, Tabriz predates the Islamic conquest of Persia. It served as the capital city of a number of dynasties following the conquest.

During its long history, the city was ransacked by Mongolian raiders and Ottoman invaders and razed by devastating earthquakes, but was rebuilt every time.

The city hosts famed religious sites, including Jame’ Mosque of Tabriz and Arg of Tabriz, and Bazaar of Tabriz has been designated the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In September, Tabriz was declared a World Craft City by the World Craft Council.