Tourism Situation in Kish
Around 40 years ago, when a group of western experts came to the island to
survey its tourism situation, they compared it with the best tourist islands
in the world and predicted a bright future for it.
Since then Kish Island has taken long and proud strides in
order to realize the position that it deserves.
Due to its natural attractions, pleasant weather more than seven months a
year, and several recreational and sports centers, today the island has
turned into a favorite tourism destination in Iran and the region.
Since Kish is a tourist island and annually hosts 1.5 million guests, heavy
investment has been made there by the Organization ,and the private sector
to establish hotels and motels. Kish currently has 11 hotels,12 apartment
hotels,18 motels and 4 guesthouses with 6500 beds.
Kish hotels have a wide range of facilities that provide an easy choice for
tourists and travelers according to their budget and taste.
In addition to the restaurants serving travelers in hotels, there are tens
of small and large restaurants with Iranian and foreign cuisine, and the
travelers can chose their favorite spot according to their taste with full
assurance about the quality services.
Food in these restaurants is found for almost every taste. Seafood, due to
the diversity of fishing, is deliciously prepared in most restaurants, and
seems to be the first choice of Iranian and foreign tourist.
Due to their tourism status, Kish restaurants are normally open till late
at night, and in addition to their delicious food, they also hold pop music
concerts, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere for their guests.
There are dozens of tourist agencies throughout Kish which facilitate
traveling for Iranian and foreign tourists.
Visitors who use these agencies can easily buy tickets, make hotel
reservations and plan their tours on the island.
These agencies work under the supervision of the Kish Tourism Development
Institute, and provide the tourists with excellent services.
The coral coasts of Kish Island have a special glow under the sunlight.
The seawater near the coasts is so clear, that one can see the depths of the
sea and all its aquatic life that are unique in their kind. These beaches
are safe and there are no dangerous creatures in the region; thus those
interested in fishing and swimming can go for their favorite sports.
Tourists can benefit from Kish beaches, sea and sun all year round.
Facilities such as a recreational jetty, glass-bottomed boats, motorboats,
and scuba diving equipment are available on the beaches.
Other recreational and sports facilities
-the World Miracles’ Park with a collection of all sorts of aquatic life,
reptiles, birds,etc…
-the Dolphin Park Complex ,comprised of the dolphin and seal pools, bird
garden, cactus garden, underwater aquarium, etc..
-Hoor’s cabin , that includes a collection of tools used for exploiting non
–pollutant energies
-the Saffein district ,where the friendly aboriginals live
-parks, green areas and several date palm fields
-several recreational and sports facilities including a horse-back riding
club, bicycling routes and tracks, marine sports complex, football field,
volleyball ground and tennis courts, etc..
-cultural centers and halls, including the Hafez and Palm Date Halls, the
coastal Saba cinema and the digital cinema.
Kish Conference Complex
In 1997, the Kish Free Trade Organization planned to build a large cultural
center. The program included the construction of a hall with 850 seats,
equipped with modern audio-visual systems for holding domestic and
international conferences. Among other facilities of this complex is a
450-seat hall equipped with mobile sceneries, modern lighting and
audio-visual facilities, for holding performances and plays, as well as a
250-seat hall for festivals. There are a number of libraries, art centers
and smaller halls beside this complex. The area of the complex is 27 000 sq
m.
Kish has a variety of tourist attractions that can be of much interest to a
wide category of tourists. Its untapped nature, beautiful beaches and green
areas, alongside the clear azure waters of the Persian Gulf have created a
unique combination.
Due to the short time the tourists have for visiting different places on the
island, they usually prefer to visit the following attractions:
Most probably the ancient town of Harireh is the same town mentioned by the
renowned Persian poet Saadi in his book Golestan.
According to the writings of Iranian and Arab historians, the town of
Harireh had been located in the center of the northern part of the island,
where the ruins of the city can be seen today.
Visiting this ancient town is an opportunity to get acquainted with the
island’s history while having a nice time at the Green Tree Recreational
Complex, situated near the ancient city.
The inhabitants of Kish, in the past, used a kind of traditional storage
system to gather rainwater. These storages were dug in the ground and built
with a domed roof. With the emergence of water desalination facilities,
these storages lost their significance. But their remnants are still an
interesting site for tourists to visit.
The Kish qanat is more than 2,500 years old, and currently it has been
converted into an underground town at a depth of 16 meters below the
surface, with an area of more than 10,000 sq m.
In the reconstruction of this qanat named Cariz, spaces have been allocated
to handicraft stalls, restaurants and traditional teahouses, amphitheaters,
conference centers, and art galleries. Efforts have been made to preserve
the traditional and historis fabric of the site.
www.kariz-kish.com
Years ago, for some unknown reason, a Greek cargo ship got close to Kish’s
coasts and was stuck in the mud. Watching the sunset beside this ship is
fascinating and the atmosphere created to rest near the ship is very
popular with tourists.
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