Shir Qaleh Shahmirzad: From Historic Heritage to a Destination for Sustainable Tourism

Asif Shekohi, tourism activist of Semnan Province, wrote in a note: Mahdishahr tourism needs more than anything a link between historical heritage, nature, local culture and local economy to pass the stage of introducing attractions and reach the status of a permanent destination. The path where Shahmirzad's lion castle can become one of its main symbols. This historical work, along with the natural and cultural capacities of the region, provides a valuable opportunity to redefine the city's tourism model; An opportunity whose realization depends on principled conservation, professional storytelling, intelligent use of technology and genuine participation of local people.

Today's tourism is no longer just about visiting a historical monument, watching a natural landscape or capturing some memorable pictures. Successful tourism destinations are those that communicate between their attractions, create a meaningful experience for visitors, and provide the basis for more tourist retention and the distribution of economic benefits in the local community. From this point of view, Mahdishahr city in Semnan province has significant capacities; Capacities that find meaning in the link between mountains, gardens, historical context, stone culture, nomadic life, villages and native products.

Among these capacities, Shahmirzad Castle can have a role beyond a historical work. This building is not only a collection of walls left over from the past, but also contains a part of the historical and geographical identity of the region. The mountainous location of the castle and the landscape around it allow tourists to experience history and nature at the same time. This feature can turn Shir Qalaa into a symbol to introduce Mahdishahr; Of course, on the condition that the introduction and protection of this work is followed in the form of a comprehensive tourism program.

In choosing a tourism symbol for each region, the oldest building or the most magnificent historical structure is not necessarily the best option. Sometimes a work has a greater capacity to introduce the identity of a destination due to the connection it establishes between history, geography, culture and people's lives. Shahmirzad's fortress can also be examined from the same angle.

Tourists who travel to this area are not only faced with a historical monument; Moreover, the mountain landscape, gardens, surrounding nature and geographical location of Shahmirzad also form a part of his experience. Therefore, the tourism value of Shirqala should not be measured only by the physical characteristics of the building, but it should be considered in relation to the historical and cultural landscape of the region.

This view also shows the necessity of changing the approach in the introduction of historical works. If the introduction of a work is limited to its name, age, and appearance, an important part of its communication capacity with the audience will be lost. The tourist should know why this building was formed in such a situation, what is its connection with the surrounding geography and how it can deepen his understanding of the past and the identity of the region.

Of course, narration about historical works must be based on documentary information and a clear distinction must be made between historical data, research hypotheses and local narratives. Making a destination attractive should not mean creating undocumented stories; Because historical credibility is one of the most important assets of cultural tourism.

One of the basic challenges of many tourist attractions is the gap between the potential capacity of the work and the experience that is actually offered to the visitor. A building may be historically and naturally valuable, but if the tourist does not know why he should visit it, what he is going to learn, and how he can fit it into his itinerary, this potential will not be fully realized.

In the case of Shir Qalaa, the main issue should be found in the connection between the historical work and the tourist experience. The existence of an attraction alone is not enough to turn it into a tourist hub. Safe and legible access, signboards, scientific introduction, basic facilities, continuous protection and connection with other attractions should be placed next to each other.

In this, professional narration is of special importance. The visitor should be able to get a clearer picture of the importance of Shirkala through short and understandable explanations, maps, audio content or accompanying a local guide. Such an approach helps visiting a historical work to go beyond the passive viewing of architectural remains and become an educational, cultural and sensory experience.

At the same time, the development of facilities should not be an excuse for extensive construction in the area of the work. The goal is to enhance the quality of the tourist experience, not the indiscriminate addition of commercial structures and disproportionate amenities. Sometimes, with simple actions, such as organizing the route, installing standard signs, providing authentic content and providing essential services in the appropriate range, the quality of the visit can be significantly improved.

One of the important opportunities in the development of heritage tourism is the judicious use of new technologies. In many historical monuments, parts of the original structure of the building have disappeared or are not in a form that the visitor can get a clear picture of its past state. Technology can help fill this gap.

For Shirkala, the use of augmented reality and digital content can transform the visiting experience. Imagine a tourist scanning a QR code at a specific point of the castle to receive a brief description of the building's location, historical features, or surrounding landscape; Or, using your mobile phone, see a virtual reconstruction of the parts of the castle that have sufficient documentary information about them.

Such facilities can be attractive for the young generation, families and tourists interested in history. Multilingual audio content, interactive maps, digital guides, and simple educational games are other options that can help increase visitor engagement.

However, the use of technology should be based on valid research and documentation. In the virtual reconstruction of the building, it is necessary to clearly separate the documented parts from the hypothetical parts and possible reconstructions so that the technology provides a more accurate understanding of the past instead of transmitting false information.

Also, digital equipment should not become a factor to disturb the visual and historical authenticity of the work. The value of technology is to enable access to more information and a deeper understanding of historical heritage without imposing heavy physical interventions. In other words, technology is successful when it serves history and storytelling, rather than becoming the main goal of tourism development.

Increasing the number of visitors, if done without proper planning and management, does not necessarily mean the success of a tourist destination. Sometimes increasing the pressure on a historical attraction leads to erosion of the building, destruction of the natural cover, accumulation of waste and damage to the cultural landscape; Consequences that reduce the attractiveness of the destination in the long run.

Due to its close connection with the mountainous environment of Shahmirzad, Shirkala requires an approach that considers the protection of the building and nature at the same time. Heavy construction, the creation of disproportionate commercial structures, unscientific renovations, haphazard manipulation of routes and disproportionate lighting can undermine the features that distinguish this attraction from many other attractions.

Therefore, any action to organize and develop around the castle must be accompanied by heritage studies, attention to the privacy of the work and the principle of minimum intervention. The facilities needed by the tourist can be organized in appropriate areas and at a distance from the sensitive historical parts; In such a way that the quality of service increases, but the main identity of the building and its surrounding landscape are not damaged.

In this model, evaluating success should not be based solely on the number of visitors. The level of tourist satisfaction, the quality of the visit experience, the protection of resources, the reduction of waste, the increase of durability, and the share of local businesses from tourism income should also be considered in the evaluation of the destination's performance.

One of the most important prerequisites for turning a historical monument into a tourist destination is to establish an effective connection between it and other capacities of the region. Shirkala should not be introduced as an independent and separate attraction from Shahmirzad; Rather, it can be part of a tourism route that links gardens, historical context, springs, nature, local culture and local products together.

Such a route helps the tourist to have a more complete plan for his trip. Visiting the castle can be a part of a day of tourism, which is followed by learning about the culture of the region, buying local products, eating local foods and visiting other attractions.

In this framework, the creation of a small space with the title "Shahmirzad Experience House" can be considered as one of the proposals to be considered. This space can be a place to introduce the history, culture, traditional life and documentary narratives of the region, and along with that, provide access to digital content and tourist route guides.

The seasonal market of handicrafts and local products can also create a direct connection between tourists and local producers. Supplying regional products, introducing production methods and providing the possibility of direct purchase, gives tourism an economic dimension and keeps a part of the travel cost in the host community.

Creating a small reception area with local identity and necessary facilities for relaxation can also be considered in a suitable range. The basic point is that the ancillary services should be in harmony with the architecture and natural landscape of the area and their establishment should not be dependent on the sensitive area of ​​the historic monument.

No tourism development program can achieve true sustainability without the participation of the local community. Native people are not only the bearers of culture, traditions and narratives of the region, but they can play a direct role in the economic prosperity of the destination by providing services, producing products and hosting tourists.

In Mahdishahr city, stone culture, nomadic life, local foods, animal husbandry, local products, handicrafts and rural architecture are capacities that can be used in designing tourism experiences. In villages such as Pervar, Maldeh, Chashem and Foulad Mohaleh, it is possible to examine the development of ecotourism residences, the supply of local products, the provision of local food and the activities of local guides, according to the conditions and capacity of each region.

Such an approach requires training and empowerment of the host community. Hosting skills, communication with tourists, cultural storytelling, compliance with health principles, marketing and waste management are among the issues that can increase the quality of local services.

People's participation should go beyond attending events or selling products. The local community needs to be involved in the decisions related to destination development, resource protection and tourist reception capacity management. In this case, people consider themselves responsible for tourism and experience its benefits in a more concrete way.

Tourism development is close to sustainable success when its economic benefits do not remain in the hands of a limited group and small businesses, local producers, local guides and accommodation activists also find the opportunity to benefit from it.

In recent years, cultural and tourism programs and events, exhibitions, craft markets and media activities have been among the means of introducing Mahdishahr's capacities. Mehdishahr Festival, Shahmirzad Art and Culture Festival and programs related to nomadic culture and life are examples of efforts to link tourism with the native identity of the city.

However, holding an event and introducing media will be effective when it leads to actual travel, accommodation, consumption of local services and visits to other attractions. Visibility of the destination in the media alone does not guarantee economic prosperity; Rather, the path to convert the audience's initial interest into a travel plan should be clear.

To achieve this goal, information on attractions, access routes, accommodation options, doable experiences and local services needs to be presented in a coherent and accessible format. Designing tourism packages, cooperation between travel service offices, accommodations, guides and local producers and integrated introduction of attractions can facilitate this process.

Shir Qalaa should also be defined in such a network; Not as a destination that tourists visit for just a few minutes, but as part of a wider experience in Shahmirzad and Mahdishahr.

Along with historical and natural tourism, rural, nomadic, cultural and religious capacities can also play a role in completing this network. Of course, the transformation of each capacity into a tourism product requires accurate identification, investigation of the target market, evaluation of infrastructures, and development of an executive plan in accordance with the characteristics of the same region.

The future of Mehdishahr tourism should not be sought only in creating new attractions or increasing the number of events. The main advantage of the city is the combination of capacities that can create a diverse and memorable experience. Nature can provide the primary motivation for travel; historical heritage and native culture give it meaning; and services, accommodations, food, handicrafts and local products, create the basis for the permanence of tourists and the distribution of economic benefits.

The realization of this vision requires coordination between the responsible institutions, private sector activists and the local community. In this way, the protection of historical heritage should be pursued simultaneously with the development of services, and decisions should be made based on knowing the capacities, needs of tourists, and environmental limitations.

Shahmirzad's Lion Castle can be the starting point of such an approach; A work that will find a stronger place in the tourism map of the region with documentary narration, principled organization, digital introduction and connection with other attractions. But the ultimate success is achieved when the development improves the visitor experience, protects heritage and increases economic opportunities for local people.

Finally, in order to become a lasting destination, Mahdishahr must properly recognize, preserve and narrate its historical, natural and cultural assets rather than building artificial attractions. A destination that properly presents its past, respects nature, and makes local people partners in development can transcend the status of a provincial scenic spot and become a destination that tourists plan to come, stay, and experience.