Qeshm: The village of Soheili on Qeshm Island has been officially recognized as one of the world’s best tourism villages for 2025 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), according to the head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department of the Qeshm Free Zone Organization.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Azadeh Abedinzadeh announced that Soheili village, known as the unrivaled gem of Hormozgan, was formally introduced as one of the best tourism villages in the world. This recognition marks significant progress in showcasing Iran’s tourism potential on a global scale.

Abedinzadeh also mentioned that alongside Soheili, the villages of Kandolus in Mazandaran and Shafiabad in Kerman received the same recognition this year. This collective acknowledgment represents a major step in promoting Iran’s diverse tourism attractions to international markets.

She further highlighted that the international recognition of Soheili opens up new opportunities for developing sustainable tourism on Qeshm Island. The ‘Best Tourism Villages’ initiative by UN Tourism evaluates up to eight villages nominated annually by member countries, based on nine main criteria such as sustainability, innovation, preservation of cultural heritage, and quality of life.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been participating in this initiative since 2021, Abedinzadeh noted, indicating the country’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its tourism sector.