Why Don't Travelers Stop in Qazvin?

Cultural activist and tourism expert Saeed Zarepour believes that the closure of some historical sites, weak promotion, and a shortage of accommodation facilities have left Qazvin, despite its historical and cultural attractions, with a smaller share of travelers who stay overnight.

According to Ambassador Arjan from Qazvin; With its rich historical and cultural background, Qazvin has a collection of valuable buildings and grounds; But from the point of view of tourism activists, having these capacities alone is not enough to attract and sustain travelers.

Saeed Zarepour, a cultural activist and tourism expert, in a conversation with the ambassador of Arjan, referring to the numerous problems of tourism in Qazvin, stated: some historical monuments of the city are closed to tourists not only during the week, but also on holidays and occasions; A situation that limits the possibility of visiting a part of Qazvin's historical heritage.

closure of historical monuments; An obstacle for tourists to visit

Referring to the situation of the Heydarieh school, Zarepour said: This historical monument is closed all year round, and it has not been possible to visit it even during Nowruz. Valuable buildings such as Sardar School and Salehiye School have been forbidden to tourists for several years due to their special uses.

Stating that most of the remaining water reservoirs in Qazvin are also closed on most days of the year, he added: Water reservoirs are one of the elements of the city's identity, and Qazvin was once known as the city of water reservoirs. However, many of these buildings have been destroyed and some other valuable works have been changed or are still not open to the public.

This tourism expert considered the visual damage and the way of using the surrounding space of historical monuments as other problems and said: Tourists who travel to the city with the knowledge of the existence of the magnificent building in Qazvin and its historical antiquity, expect to encounter an important work that is commensurate with its historical value. But the arrangement of items and decorations in front of the building and the repeated installation of banners and placards have distorted the visual landscape of this work.

Referring to the condition of Al-Nabi Mosque, he continued: turning a part of the yard and under the porches into car parking, installing scaffolding and space frame for holding ceremonies and building a shed in the yard are among the things that damage the historical image of this complex and even affect the experience of photography and visiting tourists.

Zarepour also mentioned the situation of Qazvin Jame Mosque and said: the decorations and installation of black placards in the area and in front of the entrance also have a negative effect on the historical landscape of this building.

The surrounding spaces of the buildings need to be organized

Criticizing the situation surrounding the Grand Mosque, this cultural activist said: the presence of peddlers who sell old clothes and goods, as well as social problems and conflicts that sometimes occur in this area, can create an unpleasant experience for tourists.

At the same time, he emphasized that peddling is not necessarily a problem and if it is organized, it can become a part of the identity and tourism attraction of an area.

Zarepour added: People who sell old coins, rings and rosaries around this area can become a cultural and identity capacity if planned and organized. But this department has also been left without proper organization for many years.

The dampness of the buildings and the unfavorable condition of Hajreza Palace

In another part of the interview, this tourism expert addressed the problems of maintenance and restoration of historical monuments and said: "Hamdullah Mostofi's tomb is also damaged and closed, and some of the foundations of Chehlsetun Palace are also facing this problem."

Cultural heritage budget restrictions and lack of attention to maintenance and restoration are among the factors that, according to him, have made it difficult to take care of some buildings.

Referring to the situation of Haj Reza Palace in Qazvin Bazaar and other palaces around it, he stated: A number of historical monuments have been left alone and are gradually getting damaged. Haj Reza House is one of the clear examples of this situation, which is in unfavorable conditions.

Weakness of advertising; The agent of passengers passing through Qazvin

Zarepour considered the lack of accommodation centers and the weakness of introduction and promotion of the historical capacities of the province as the reasons for the travelers not staying and said: at the entrance of many provinces, billboards are dedicated to the introduction of history, civilization and tourist attractions; But in the entrances and axes leading to Qazvin, the introduction of historical and cultural capacities is not done properly.

He added: While road advertisements can be used to introduce the historical identity of Qazvin, a significant part of these spaces is dedicated to advertising restaurants, construction and tower construction, or warning signs.

Referring to the high volume of passenger traffic from the province, this cultural activist stated: The number of passengers in Qazvin may be high, but a large part of this presence is limited to crossing the roads of the province. Many travelers do not have enough knowledge of the city's attractions and therefore do not enter the city; While, according to him, people who travel to Qazvin, after getting to know the historical authenticity of the city and its people, have a different view of this destination.

Zarepour continued: Even in Shahrivar and Mehram, when the weather gets cooler, a large number of travelers move from the Qazvin route to the north of the country, the capacity of this traffic has not been used enough to introduce the province's attractions.

Referring to the limited knowledge of Qazvin by some travelers, he said: Many of them know the city not by the Safavid government house, Masjid al-Nabi or Saad al-Sultaneh historical complex, but by Mellat Park. According to him, when there is no proper information about historical monuments, a traveler who stays in the city for one night will not necessarily plan to visit these buildings.

Alamut needs eco-tourism lodges, not high-rise hotels

Referring to the status of the Alamut region and the increase in tourists' attention to it after the global registration of the historic monument of this region, this tourism expert said: Alamut Castle is one of the valuable historical monuments of Iran, and many foreign tourists also know Qazvin by the name of Alamut. With increasing attention to this area, the number of tourists is expected to increase; An issue that doubles the need to pay attention to tourism infrastructure.

Zarepour considered road access to be one of the most important challenges for Alamut tourism and said: The road that was built years ago does not meet today's needs. However, he does not agree with the widening of the road due to environmental concerns and believes that the attractiveness of this tourist axis can be maintained by securing the existing route, technical improvement and asphalt coating, while improving access.

He also emphasized about Alamut's accommodation infrastructure: the main solution is not to build multi-story and multi-star hotels; Because such constructions do not fit with the natural characteristics and identity of this area. The development of eco-tourism residences and accommodation spaces compatible with local culture can solve part of the problem of tourist accommodation.

In the end, Zarepour considered the observance of cultural and social considerations to be one of the prerequisites for the sustainable development of tourism in Alamut and said: the formulation and implementation of clear rules to maintain respect for the local community, along with improving access, developing accommodations that fit the environment and effectively introducing attractions, can help the sustainable development of tourism in Alamut and other areas of the province.