Marine tourism potentials in Iranian Free Zones

Beautiful and shallow coast are perfect for different types of water sports like Jet Ski, boating, snorkeling along with luxury marine restaurant and ships encourage tourists from all over the country to travel costal band of Iran.

Tourism oriented occupational activities performed in the sea with marine vessels and vehicles as well as other occupational activities that directly support such activities are defined as MARINE TOURISM.
The sea offers many opportunities for recreation and tourism purposes and in practical terms it is a source of food and transport. In the past, most of our marine environment was 'protected' from tourist use by its inaccessibility, safety concerns and the relatively high cost of recreating in the sea. Through recent decades, significant advances in technology and the increase in international travel have made marine environments more accessible both in real and economic terms. Coastal and marine tourism has become a huge business that forms a significant component of the growing global tourism industry.

Marine Tourism examines successful and unsuccessful tourism with regard to the marine environment. Providing an overview of the history and development of tourism centred around the marine environment, the author goes on to examine the characteristics of marine tourists and considers the roles of 'vendors' of marine tourism activities and opportunities. The final section examines the impacts of tourist activities on marine ecosystems and coastal-based communities and explores management techniques, which may be appropriate in reducing negative impacts and maximising the benefits of marine tourism.

Iranian free zones enjoy long costal line both in Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf which can turn the regions into a hub for marine tourism and attract lots of tourists both from home and abroad.

Variety of Iranian free zones weather condition must be studied from different point of views. Bandar-e Anzali located in the northern part of the country can attract tourists during summer time and on the other hand Chabahar, Qeshm, and Kish can be marine tourism destination in winter time.
The most important issues that must be taken into consideration is to prepare necessary infrastructures in the free zones for taking advantages of all potentials of free zones.

Launching marine tourism agencies, purchasing passenger ship, performing one-day or one –night tour in sea, constructing necessary facilities are among the steps that promote marine tourism in the country.
Some number of Persian Gulf Littoral States are constructing artificial island and try to compete with each other, Iranian free zones regarding to their high potentials in the north and the south part of the country can be consider the important rival for Persian Gulf Littoral States.
Taking advantages of Iranian free zone potentials not only reinforce tourism there but also can affect economic structure in long term and create jobs for local in the above said regions.

Bandar-e Anzali

Bandar-e Anzali is a harbor town on the Caspian Sea, in the Iranian province of Gilan, close to Rasht. Bandar-e Anzali has a population of approximately 150,000. Bandar-e Anzali is one of the most important seaports in the north of Iran. It consists of an island called Mianposhteh and the surrounding lands. Tourist attractions include a clock tower called Manareh, the long harbour promenade, and the water-logged delta of and beach along the Sefid River.

Its aqua atomshere is a suitable bed for the spawning of various types of fish, which play an important role in the economy of the region. This wetland is one of the best and appropriate surroundings for various waterfowls. Hundreds of species of migrant birds choose to settle in this area for breeding. The Anzali wetland and its islands have a beautiful view which attracts nature lovers.

Kish

Kish Island has a surface area of 90 square kilometers, with an outer boundary of 40kms. he Island is positioned along the 1359km long Iranian coastline north of the Persian Gulf, at the first quarter from the hormuz entrance to the Gulf.

Since vital climates are influenced by the combined effects of rainfalls and humidity and are measured by the ratio of the size of annual rainfalls in millimeters to the degree of temperatures is less than 2 to 1. According to this measure, Kish's climate is considered to be a very dry semi equatorial climate. For an 8 years span of time, the median annual rainfall in Kish has been 145mm (54% in winter, 28% autumn and 14% in summer) and the annual temperature 26.6 Celsius

Persian Gulf / Kish Island Dive Sites, Big Coral, Southern reef, Kish Diving & Marine Clubs and Marine Sports Centers, The sports and recreational facilities and clubs include opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving courses, jet skiing, diving cruises, water skiing, sea skiffs, cruises to other islands around Kish, parasailing, jet boat rides, cruise fishing boats, pedal boating, banana boat rides, and windsurfing are all marine potentials of Kish Island.

Qeshm

Qeshm is an island situated in the Strait of Hormuz, and separated from the mainland by the Clarence Strait/Khuran in the Persian Gulf. It is known as the heaven of coral reef. Qeshm island is famous for its wide range of ecotourist attractions such as the Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5% of the world birds and 25% of Iran's native birds annually migrate to Hara forests which is the first national geo park.

The Hara forests is the common name for mangrove forests on the southern coast of Iran, particularly on and near the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf, it attract lots of tourists per year .
Tourists can enjoys unique night in Qeshm Island while observing stars on the ship, Qeshm Free Zone Organization has taken effective steps into consideration in order to develop marine tourism in region.

Chabahar

The historical port of Chabahar enjoys a specific and strategic position in the region and is regarded as a port of entry into the international waters due to its farthest end of southeast of the country beside the azure waters of the Oman sea and Indian oceans.

Chabahar Gulf is considered as one of the natural sightseeing of Chabahar because of its unique sun rise and sunset (there is no doubt that it is the most unique one in the country) and the lights of the ships in the sea and its horseshoe shape beside the Indian Ocean
With an area of 11 square Kilo meters , Chabahar has the same geographical latitude of Miami port in the peninsula of Florida of U.S.A and the same climate too, there are natural and wonderful phenomena in this region which makes every observers do nothing but praise these natural masterpiece. We hereby point out to few of these admirable and natural works as well as few important and historical monuments.

This port owns the ability to change into an international and a regional mega port and plays a well deserved role in the economy and trade of Islamic Republic of Iran. The port of Chabahar is allocated itself the best advantages in the universal transit among those three main routes of south and north and it is regarded even more important than the Suez Canal.

The temperature of this port changes from 34 degree centigrade maximum to 10.5 degrees centigrade minimum during last year. Therefore , this post is considered one of the most pleasant climate condition.
In ChaBahar because of its unique position which is the only port of the country which is beside an ocean (because of its neighbourhood with the Indian Ocean), there is a region which is known as Rocky Beach.

Arvand

The region, suggested to be considered as the Arvand free zone, consists of 3 zones in an area of 170 square kilometers, is located on the southwestern part of Khuzistan province along the border river, the Arvand River. Iranian & Iraqi border –line where the border customs is located and Abadan refinery constitute the borders on the western – eastern ends of the region. The Arvand River runs from the North West to the southeast, pours into the Persian Gulf after twists and turns on the way and surrounding the Minoo Island. The Arvand River constitutes most of the southern and eastern parts of the Arvand free zone.

Minoo Island is a unique tourism attraction which is able to attract lots of tourists with respect to its high potentials.