Expanding Public Transportation: A Path to Boosting Tourism in Rey

The deputy for urban planning and architecture of the Tehran mayor, in a note, addressed the importance of developing integrated public transportation in boosting tourism in Rey.

According to Ambassador Arjan Nasrallah Abadian, Deputy Mayor of Tehran for Urban Development and Architecture, in a note, he reviewed the role of public transportation development in the boom of urban tourism, and referring to the historical and religious background of this city, he considered easy access to tourist attractions to be one of the effective factors in improving the quality of experience of pilgrims and tourists.

Abadian, referring to the civilizational background of Ray and the presence of relics from the pre-Islamic and Islamic eras, the shrine of Hazrat Abdul Azim (a.s.) and religious and tomb collections, considered this city to have a distinct identity in the field of cultural and religious tourism.

According to him, by introducing Ray as a "historical-religious urban center", Tehran's master plan has considered a place for it beyond a residential area in the south of the capital. A place where the strengthening of tourism can contribute to the balanced development of Tehran and pay more attention to the cultural and religious capacities of the south of the city.

The deputy of urban planning and architecture of the mayor of Tehran further emphasized that having historical and spiritual attractions alone is not enough for the prosperity of tourism and the time, cost and difficulty of access also affect people's decision to travel and the quality of their experience.

Development of the subway and facilitating access to the shrine of Hazrat Abdulazim (AS)

Abadian considered the development of regular and reliable public transportation as a factor for increasing the access of citizens and tourists to the historical and religious destinations of Raya and stated that the continuity of transportation services and the ease of commuting between tourist attractions can help increase the tourism capacity of this region and improve the quality of the pilgrimage and visit experience.

Referring to the southern expansion of metro line 6 and the preparation of Hazrat Abdul Azim Square station, which according to him is on the verge of opening, he considered this project effective in facilitating access to the shrine area and the historical core of the city.

According to Abadian, the planned development of metro line 11 can also provide a better connection capacity to the west and southwest of Tehran in the long term.

The role of public transportation in rituals

The deputy of urban planning and architecture of the mayor of Tehran emphasized the importance of public transportation services in facilitating the attendance of people in these events, referring to events such as the walk of the Arbaeen survivors.

He stated that metro and bus services can make commuting to and from the ceremony route easier, adding: These services also provide more opportunities for people who cannot walk the entire route to participate.

Abadian also pointed to the experience of providing special metro services during the walking ceremony of Arbaeen survivors, and said that ensuring the return of pilgrims, especially the elderly and families with children, is part of the quality of the city's hosting of pilgrims.

Development of human-oriented spaces around tourist attractions

In another part of his note, Abadian related religious and ritual tourism to the memory, belonging and collective life of the people and emphasized the necessity of accompanying the development of the transportation network with regular services, operating hours appropriate to the ceremony and safe movement between stations and places of pilgrimage.

He also mentioned the development of public transportation as an opportunity to reduce the need to allocate more space around historical monuments for the traffic and stopping of cars and to expand suitable spaces for walking, pausing and gathering.

According to the deputy of urban planning and architecture of the mayor of Tehran, the development of public transportation along with the protection of historical heritage and people's participation can increase the public access to the cultural and religious capacities of Ray and provide the opportunity for more citizens and tourists to benefit from these capacities.