Kerman unveiled the “Smile of the World—Kerman 2026” strategy to elevate its national and international tourism profile through coordinated investments in infrastructure, capital attraction, and destination marketing leveraging its UNESCO-listed sites and diverse climates.
Kerman: Mohammad Ali Talebi, Governor of Kerman, announced the strategic motto “Smile of the World Kerman 2026,” positioning the province to secure a prominent standing in both domestic and international tourism. The plan builds on Kerman’s deep historical legacy, extensive infrastructure, and ongoing projects.
Talebi said the initiative is driven by three main pillars:
1- Infrastructure development,
2- Investment mobilization, and
3- Tourism marketing.
He noted that Kerman Iran’s largest province and one of the oldest cradles of civilization hosts the highest number of UNESCO-listed sites in the country. Combined with its diverse climate and geography, this endowment places Kerman in a strong position to attract both domestic and foreign visitors.
The governor also highlighted plans for a special pilgrimage-and-visit zone called “Malek Soleiman” adjacent to the mausoleum of Qassem Soleimani. With its valuable historical and cultural assets, the zone is intended to foster religious and cultural tourism and could become a key driver of Kerman’s tourism growth at national and international levels.
Talebi further pointed to the province’s mining and industrial potential, noting that coal tunnels and iron/stone mines could form the basis of industrial and geo-mining tourism if managed properly.
On the city level, Vahdat Eydi, Deputy Governor of Bam, emphasized the need to upgrade tourism infrastructure to draw large numbers of visitors. He underscored that Bam boasts four UNESCO-inscribed sites, led by the Bam Citadel and Cultural Landscape, and stretches toward the UNESCO-inscribed Lut Desert—assets that require sustained preservation and promotion.
Eydi cited cultural events as catalysts for demand, referencing the Date Festival (12–19 September) featuring prominent Iranian artists in Bam’s special economic zone. The festival showcases the city’s strengths in tourism, handicrafts, and cultural heritage, and supports the broader goal of “Smile of the World Kerman 2026” and sustainable tourism for the region.
Concluding, Eydi said the objective is to reach a level of hotels, facilities, and services capable of welcoming hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists, calling for coordinated action by executive bodies in partnership with local communities.