Member Report: New Accessible Tourism Actions in Iran, 2025

1. Article

An article was published by the International Journal of Economics and Management Engineering by Ali Kharazi, H. Aghajani, and B. Hesam Azizi. The article reports on the study to identify and classify the entrepreneurial opportunities in the blind tourism industry in Khuzestan Province, covering several areas of the tourism sector, such as Travel Agency, Handicrafts, Museum and Historical Sites, Accommodations, Transportation, Digital and Technology, Food and Beverage, and Tour Operators . 
Download the journal article from the Downloads section of this page.  

2. Seminar and workshop

Photo: Seminar at at Takhti Hotel in city of Ahvaz. led by Ali Kharazi. 

Currently, because accessible tourism is a new topic in Iranian tourism, most workshops and training seminars are presented on the principles of accessible tourism. The seminar and workshop of accessible tourism was presented by Ali Kharazi in order to increase the level of knowledge of tourism activists about accessible tourism as follows:

• Principles and Foundations of Accessible Tourism Seminar: the seminar was presented at Takhti Hotel in city of Ahvaz. A group of touristguides, travel agencies, nurses, correspondents, experts of tourism, managers of the hotels, the governors of cities in Khuzestan province, and agent of Ahvaz municipality participated in this Seminar. The definition of accessible tourism, its classifications, various services of target groups, and the concept of inclusive tourism were presented.
• Workshop on operating tours for the blind and deaf: The workshop was presented in City of Hamedan (Center of Hamedan Province) for tourist guides of Hamedan in order to prepare for operating a tour for visitors who are blind or deaf. 15 tourist guides participated in this workshop. It can be said that after this workshop, the first para-tour was operated for visitors who are blind at Hamedan medical museum. Also, a para-tour for deaf people will be operated as soon as possible.

3. Blind tour in Hamedan 

As mentioned above, the first blind tour was operated in the City of Hamedan at the medical museum. 10 blind tourists (5 men and 5 women) were participated in this tour while 5 tourist guides assisted them during the tour. Audio file about the museum, several maquettes of objects at the museum, and a brochure in braille were some services of this tour.

Ali Kharazi was invited by the Hamedan Cultural Heritage, tourism and handicrafts administration to participate in the tour as a designer, tour leader and presenter of the workshop.

4. Field reviews

Field reviews were carried out in several cities of Khuzestan Province and also in the city of Hamedan in order to develop and improve tourism infrastructure of accessible tourism and also detect its weak and strength points in several fields such as historical sites, museums, restaurants, accommodation, transportation, urban pathways, traffic lights and so on.

• Shushtar: Shushtar is one of the most important cities in Khuzestan province because of its Ancient Hydraulic Systems (UNESCO Site). This city visit took place over two days and one night. During this visit, urban streets, hotels, restaurants, and important historical sites were visited, and two meetings were held with the director of the Shushtar World Base and Shushtar tourism activists in various service sectors.
• Shush: The UNESCO SITE in Shush consists of the Shush Museum, Apadana Palace and handicrafts part, in which various subjects and plans were considered such as equipping the museum for accessible tourism groups and creating a special museum for the blind, and entrance and exit ramps.
• Haft-Tappeh museum and Tchogha Zanbil UNESCO Site: Haft-Tappeh museum experienced three accessible tours (2 tours, one tour for deaf people). In addition the museum improved some equipment for accessible tourism. During the new visit, ramps, tablets in braille, maquettes and mos importantly, the conditions for the creation and use of technology and Artificial Intelligence were examined. Also, a pathway in Tchoghazanbil especially for wheelchair users and old people was reviewed.
• Izeh Archaeological Museum: The Accessible project of Izeh Archaeological Museum has progressed very well since 2015. Generally, the final plan of accessible tourism at Izeh museum was completed after reviewing the museum, meeting with manager of museum, reviewing conditions of pathways, restaurant and accommodation in city of Izeh. The final plan of improving infrastructure for accessible tourism is ready and the project will be implemented  after financing is supplied.
• Hamedan: The infrastructure of Hamedan in streets, pathways historical sites such as Hegmataneh (UNESCO SITE), Abu Ali Sina museum, and Baba-Taher Shrine, Ganjnashe Shrine as well as hotels and restaurants was visited. In addition two meetings with touristguides and manager of Abu Ali Sina museum were held in order to improve infrastructure and other facilities especially in digital and technology part.
• Ahvaz: some tourism services parts of Ahvaz (center of Khuzstan Province) have shown great interest in accessible tourism services. One of the hotels under construction is planning to fully implement accessible infrastructure in the hotel. As a result, several meetings were held with the hotel manager as a consultant. In addition two restaurants tried to improve services for sub-group of accessible tourism In addition to creating entrepreneurial opportunities for the blind, deaf, and disable people.

Photo: The nineteenth century Shush Castle, now a museum, in the Khuzestan Province of Iran. 

5. Next plans

Education is the most important thing in accessible tourism in Iran. In other words, education plays the key role in growing and improving accessible tourism and facilities in different parts of tourism services.

As a member of the European Network for Accessible Tourism, I am striving to further develop accessible tourism in Iran in 2026, based on the commitments of the ENAT Code of Good Conduct by following the 2025 plans.

Thank you, 

Ali Kharazi.
International Tourist Guide, Iran.

Download Aki Khazari's illustrated Iran Accessible Tourism Report, 2025 from the Downloads section of this page. 

Photo: Ali Kharazi (centre, wearing jacket) in discussion with other men at the Shushkar Watermills. 

Ali Kharazi is an Associate Member of ENAT